Victim’s Death Elevates WOC Assault Case To Homicide

WEST OCEAN CITY- The charges against a local homeless man for the beating death of another man in West Ocean City in December were elevated from first-degree assault to first-degree murder this week after the victim succumbed to injuries sustained in the alleged attack.

Eric J. Jarrett, 48, of no fixed address, on Tuesday was indicted on charges of first-degree murder, second-degree murder, first- and second-degree assault and reckless endangerment for his role in the beating death of another local homeless man at a residence on Golf Course Road in West Ocean City on December 19. Jarrett was charged immediately after the incident with first- and second-degree assault and has been held without bond since.

However, the victim, identified as George L. Stinnett, 58, of no fixed address, later succumbed to injuries sustained in the alleged assault and an autopsy was ordered. When the autopsy determined Stinnett’s death was a homicide, the Worcester County State’s Attorney’s Office then presented the new evidence to a grand jury, which indicted Jarrett this week on first- and second-degree murder and other charges.

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