An Olney man with a history of mental health problems has been ordered held without bond in the shooting deaths of two men in that town.
Rohan Goodlett was ordered held on murder charges following a court appearance Thursday. The 35-year-old was arrested Monday and held on drug charges. His car had been stopped because it matched the description of a vehicle seen near the second shooting, which occurred earlier that night, police said.
Goodlett has been accused of killing 81-year-old Nazir Ahmed on March 18 and 41-year-old Punyasara Gedara on Monday.
Goodlett lived next door to Ahmed, police said, and the motive for that shooting may have been money, NBC Washington's Pat Collins reported. Witnesses said they heard Goodlett talk about needing money. Ahmed, who always left his door unlocked according to prosecutors, had recently withdrawn $40 from an ATM. He was shot execution style, and no money was found in the home.
The motive for the second shooting is unknown.
Goodlett was under the supervision of mental health officials after being found not criminally responsible for burglary and harassment in 2009, prosecutor John McCarthy said.
"I think there is a big lack of supervision in that system," Sandler said.
The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene released a statement Thursday saying that mental health officials had no indication that Goodlett violated any of the conditions of his release, Collins reported.
"Someone needs to listen and take action and strictly, strictly monitor that individual for the protection of us all," said defense attorney Rene Sandler.
Goodlett is a Howard University graduate and the son of a college professor.
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