Woman Who Used Crowbar To Beat 71-Year-Old To Death Receives Sentence

EDGEWOOD, MD ? The woman convicted of beating a 71-year-old man from Edgewood to death with blows from a crowbar to his skull has been sentenced, Harford County prosecutors said.

On Feb. 18, 2022, around 7:56 a.m., Harford County sheriff's deputies responded to a 911 call at 2310 Perry Ave. in Edgewood after Gerald Champ's daughter found her elderly father's body in his home. Family members had not been able to reach Champ for days and his 2003 Ford Explorer was missing from the property, according to police.

An autopsy revealed the homicide happened as a result of blunt force trauma with prong-like defects embedded in Champ's skull, including multiple skull fractures and defensive wounds to his hands and arms. Detectives found a crowbar in Champ's home and it was identified as the murder weapon. Suspects were identified, including Ashley Pearl Zentz, now 36, who knew the victim and his family for more than 20 years.

Family members of the victim found Champ's missing Ford Explorer abandoned in Baltimore County near a home invasion in which Zentz and a co-defendant were involved that had happened within 24 hours of when the victim was believed to have been murdered, according to court documents.

A silver Infiniti QX80 stolen during the Baltimore County home invasion was later recovered less than one mile from Zentz?s parents? home. Forensic evidence, including DNA, cell phone downloads and surveillance video, linked Zentz to the Harford County murder and the Baltimore County home invasion, prosecutors stated.

After the six-day trial in October, the state prosecution requested a life sentence, suspend all but 72 years to serve, for the first-degree murder charge and five years for the motor vehicle theft count, running consecutively. On Dec. 18, Zentz received a sentencing of life, suspend all but 60 years to serve. She also was sentenced to five years for the motor vehicle theft count, running consecutively.

?This significant sentence is a huge victory for the safety of Harford County and removes a violent murderer from our community for decades to come. I commend Mr. Champ?s daughter for her courage in delivering such a graceful and sincere victim impact statement during sentencing. It is my sincere hope that this sentence provides some closure to Mr. Champ?s entire family and affords them some peace in knowing the person responsible for his death was brought to justice," said State's Attorney Alison M. Healey.

Read more:

• 2 Charged In Edgewood Homicide: Harford County Sheriff
• Attacker Who Used Crowbar To Kill Elderly Man Found Guilty: Prosecutor