District Heights teenager pleads guilty to murder of elderly woman

UPPER MARLBORO, Md. - Sixteen-year-old William Roger Fitts was sentenced to 60 years in prison after pleading guilty to the fatal stabbing of his elderly District Heights neighbor last August.

Prince George's County Deputy State's Attorney Tara Harrison-Jackson said Fitts, who lived across the street from the victim, Thelma Steele, admitted to stabbing her several times with a pocket knife after they argues about family issues. 

"This was an egregious crime against one of our seniors and we are very pleased that Mr. Fitts received the maximum sentence," Harrison-Jackson said.  "There was absolutely no motive for this crime that we are aware of and that makes it even more horrific."

On August 15, 2011, responding to a call for service, the Prince George's County Police went to the victim's home because she had not been heard from for several days.  After the Prince George's County Fire Department forced entry into the residence, the victim was found on her couch, dead of several apparent stab wounds.  Her death was ruled a homicide.

The teenager also indicated that after he killed the victim, he returned to her home later that day and took her purse, cash, and credit card.  Police located and recovered the pocket knife used by Fitts in the murder as well as clothing he wore during the murder.  

The Prince George's County Police Department's Homicide unit began investigating the murder and was quickly able to develop William Roger Fitts, who lived across the street, as a suspect.  Fitts had used the victim's credit card to purchase "organic" marijuana from the internet during the previous few days.