Anthony Grandison

Anthony Grandison is an American drug dealer and murderer who is currently awaiting execution in Maryland. He was sentenced to death for ordering the killing of a pair of witnesses more than twenty years ago.

In 1982 Grandison was on parole after having served several years in prison for assaulting a DEA agent. While going through security at BWI airport on his way to Miami a baggage screener noticed a substantial amount of cash in Grandison's luggage. The US Marshall's service later arrested him on suspicion of violating his parole, and a search of his belongings revealed a key for a room at the Warren House Motel in Pikesville. A search of the room found a substantial amount of cocaine and heroin, which resulted in Grandison being indicted on federal drug charges.

Two key witnesses in the government's case were David Scott Piechowicz and his wife Cheryl. David Piechowicz was the motel's manager, and he and Cheryl were the only two witnesses who could place Grandison in the room where the drugs were found. Cheryl's sister Susan was filling in for her at work on the morning of April 28, 1983, when Vernon Evans, a hitman who had been hired by Grandison, came and shot Susan and David 17 times. Despite the murder of her husband and sister Cheryl Piechowicz testified against Grandison 12 days later at his federal drug trial, which ended in Grandison's conviction.

After the Warren House Motel killings the US government indicted Grandison and Evans along with two co-conspirators, Rodney Kelly and Janet Moore, on charges of witness tampering and conspiracy to violate the civil rights of David Piechowicz. The Baltimore County State's Attorney's office also indicted Grandison and Evans on charges of first degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and the use of a handgun in the commision of a felony. Both of these cases led to convictions. Grandison was sentenced to life in the federal case, and received a death sentence after being convicted of state murder charges.

After several years of appeals Grandison's original death sentence was vacated in July of 1992. Another sentencing hearing was held, and in June of 1994 a second jury again sentenced Grandison to die. Grandison has since exhausted all of his appeals, however his execution is on hold because of an unofficial moratorium on executions in Maryland.

References

* [http://www.courts.state.md.us/opinions/coa/2005/16a05.pdf "Grandison v. State"] No. 16, Sept. Term, 2005. Court of Appeals of Maryland