A preliminary hearing is scheduled for next month.
Frederick, Md (KM) In Frederick County District Court on Wednesday afternoon, bond was denied for a Knoxville woman charged with 1st-degree murder. Michelle Leigh Handord, 37, was arrested early Tuesday morning for fatally shooting her fiance, Wesley Alan Gibson.
State’s Attorney Charlie Smith says bond is usually denied for defendants charged with 1st-degree murder. He also said Handorf is a flight risk. “She is from Texas She’s not a long term resident here in Maryland. So I think that was another factor that weighed heavily in holding her without bond,” he says.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for February 26th, 2020 at the Frederick County Court House. Smith says his office will present this case to the Grand Jury. “If and when they find probable cause for this, a trial date then gets set for the next 180 and we’ll proceed at that point,” he says.
On Tuesday, January 28th, the Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to the 3800 block of South Mountain Road after Handorf called 911 to say she shot Gibson. Emergency medical technicians were called to the scene. Gibson was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Handorf was charged with 1st-degree murder, 2nd-degree murder and use of a handgun in a crime of violence.
According to charging documents, Handorf told investigators that Gibson had been physically abusing her for the past few days, including slapping her, pulling her hair, grabbing by the throat and threatening to kill her.
She also said she found the handgun Gibson kept in the bedroom. Handorf said Gibson had a “crazy look in his eye” and thought he was going to kill her, according to charging documents. So she shot him. Gibson stumbled and fell to the floor.
Smith was asked if investigators might consider this a case of self defense. “Obviously, they take a look at all of the facts that are presented during their investigation and consult with us regarding them so we can figure out whether there is a valid defense It’s something that we do consider in terms of charging,” he says.
There were two children in the home at the time of the shooting. They were taken to Sheriff’s Office headquarters where they were also interviewed by investigators.
By Kevin McManus