Almost seven years after a pregnant Maryland teenager was found suffering from a gunshot wound in Bowie, a man accused of killing her is on trial.
“Finally, we’re going to get justice for Stacey,” the victim’s mother said outside Prince George’s County court Monday.
Stacey Seaton, 17, died at a hospital after being found wounded June 1, 2005.
McDonald “Duce” Abraham hired Jarvis Tyler to kill Stacey for $400 cash and $200 in marijuana because Abraham believed she was involved in the theft of drugs, money and a gun from his apartment, according to the prosecution.
“That’s what her life came down to: Two bags of weed and $400,” Assistant State’s Attorney Dorothy Engle said.
Almost four years after the killing, DNA found on a cigarette butt near the murder scene was matched to Tyler, who exchanged 21 calls with Abraham on the day Stacey died, according to the prosecution.
“And there was one after her murder and that was the phone call to let Duce know he’d done his job,” Engle said.
The defense said Abraham was solely responsible for Stacey’s death, according to Tyler’s defense, and Abraham is cooperating with the prosecution to get a lighter sentence. He pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and agreed to testify against Tyler. He faces between 15 and 50 years in prison when he’s sentenced after Tyler’s trial.
“Duce sold his testimony,” defense attorney Keith Showstack said. “You know the price of his testimony? Fifteen years.”
Abraham will be on the stand when testimony continues Tuesday.
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