May 25, 2023

Two suspects were arrested and charged on Wednesday by St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office detectives in a homicide investigation in Mechanicsville.

On Wednesday, May 24, 2023, at 5:28 am, St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrived at an apartment at the 29000 block of Three Notch Road in Mechanicsville for the report of a male suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. Patrol officers arrived and located the victim, Raymond Franklin Woods Jr., age 54 of Mechanicsville, deceased on a couch.

Detectives with the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division continued the investigation, along with the Crime Lab Unit and a forensic investigator from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. The gunshot wound was determined to be a homicide.

As a result of the investigation, Marvin Orlando Johnson, age 38 of Mechanicsville, was charged with First-Degree Murder, Second-Degree Murder, Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Crime of Violence, First-Degree Assault and Second-Degree Assault.

Additionally, Marlee Lynn Stokes, age 37 of Charlotte Hall, was charged with First-Degree Murder: Accessory After the Fact and Second-Degree Murder: Accessory After the Fact.

Both suspects are being held at the St. Mary’s County Detention and Rehabilitation Center in Leonardtown on a no-bond status.

Anyone with additional information about this incident is asked to call Detective Andrew Burgess at 301-475-4200, ext. 8041 or email andrew.burgess@stmaryscountymd.gov.