June 3rd, 2016 by WCBC Radio
Maryland State Police homicide investigators have charged a suspect who had been arrested by troopers earlier this week for armed robbery with the murder of a Washington County woman found dead in her Washington County home late yesterday morning.
The accused is identified as Anthony M. Minnick, 26, of no fixed address. After consultation with the Washington County State's Attorney's Office, State Police Homicide Unit investigators obtained an arrest warrant charging Minnick with first degree murder, second degree murder, first degree assault and theft over $1,000. The warrant was served on Minnick early this morning at the Washington County Detention Center where he was being held on unrelated charges of armed robbery.
The victim is identified as Sonya Y. Smith, 55, of the 23000-block of Foxville Road, Smithsburg, Md. An autopsy expected today at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore is anticipated to verify the cause and manner of her death.
Shortly before 11:00 a.m. yesterday, Maryland state troopers from the Hagerstown Barrack were dispatched to Smith's residence to check her welfare. Family members contacted the barrack and requested the check because they had not had contact with Smith since May 31st.
When troopers arrived at the home, they found it to be secure from the outside, with no signs of forced entry. Troopers then forced their way into the home to search for the woman.
Troopers found the woman, later identified as Smith, lying on a bedroom floor. Troopers observed obvious signs of trauma on the woman's body. EMS personnel responded and pronounced her deceased. Investigators from the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit, as well as the Criminal Enforcement Division, responded to conduct the investigation.
Investigators obtained a search warrant for the residence before scene processing began. Maryland State Police crime scene technicians processed the scene for evidence.
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