A Baltimore police officer has been charged for allegedly murdering his 15-year-old stepson.
Last week, police found the body of Dasan Jones in an attic crawlspace, Yahoo! News reports. His body was found after the teen’s mother called the police, explaining that she could not reach her son by phone. The mother went on to tell authorities that she believed her son was being held against his will.
When the police came to the family’s home, they questioned the teen’s step-father, 34-year-old Eric Banks Jr. The man – who is married to Jones’ mother – told police Jones left and didn’t leave behind any of his belongings, according to Anne Arundel police. After checking the home, they found Jones’ body in the attic upstairs. There were also bloody clothes in a dresser.
“This is absolutely a heartbreaking, traumatic and horrific case, Anne Arundel County police Chief Amal Awad said, Yahoo! News reports. “This was a young man with a bright future yet his life … was tragically taken.”
Police put Banks in handcuffs, and then he tried to grab one of the officer’s gun, police said. It took more than one officer to detain banks. “My life is over,” Banks yelled during his arrest. Police said he even asked a cop to choke him. The news outlet reports the medical examiner ruled Jones’ death a result of homicide by asphyxiation.
Banks was charged with first- and second-degree murder and child abuse resulting in death was added as a charge.
