Photo: march funeral homes
A day laborer was charged with the death of a 69-year-old beloved church member found dead inside East Baltimore’s Southern Baptist Church, WBAL reports.
At about 6 a.m. on Nov. 16, Evalyn Player arrived at her church to let in day laborers who were assisting in renovating the church, WJZ reports. Less than an hour later, she was found stabbed to death in a bathroom inside the church, police stated.
Friends told the station that Player was a dedicated member of the church and volunteered her time every day. She’d been a member for 50 years, said Pastor Donté Hickman.
“We were very distraught, shocked and we especially didn’t believe it would happen in the house of God. But we just thank and praise God that even through this, God’s will and greater purpose will be accomplished,” Hickman told the AFRO website. “Evelyn Player represents anybody’s mother who could’ve been in that situation, so we just thank God that people are touched inwardly and that people still have hearts for the community.”
“Her family is four generations strong at Southern and all of our hearts should be with them,” said Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott. “This is not OK. None of us should be OK.”
On Dec. 1, after hundreds mourned the loss of Player, law enforcement arrested Manzie Smith Jr. He was charged with first-degree murder, WBAL reports.
BPD
“He suffers from significant mental health issues — delusional thoughts, schizophrenia. He’s in pretty bad shape in that regard,” Brown says. “He doesn’t have any recollection of the events.”
Brown says Smith is aware of the “barbaric” act that took place at the East Baltimore church.
The document did not list any other evidence or witness corroboration.
“We don’t know where the DNA was found in the church,” Brown said.
source: people.com
