A suspected serial killer was sentenced to 100 years in prison Tuesday for committing dozens of violent burglaries and home invasions in Prince George’s County. Jason T. Scott was convicted of carjacking, weapons and child pornography charges in federal court in Greenbelt in July for his role in more than 50 burglaries and nine home invasions. Most took place between 2007 and 2009.
U.S. Attorney for Maryland Rod Rosenstein called Scott a “professional criminal” who “became increasingly violent.”
The 28-year-old former UPS worker was indicted in July 2010 in the slayings of 42-year-old Delores Dewitt and her 20-year-old daughter, Ebony. The pair’s charred bodies were found in a burning car in Largo in March 2009. His trial in that case is scheduled for October.
Prince George’s police officials have described Scott as a serial killer and say he is also suspected in three other killings in the county, though he has only been charged in the Dewitts’ deaths.
In the federal case, Scott was accused of using a UPS database to look up homes he was targeting, cutting phone lines to disable alarm systems, then breaking glass windows or using unlocked doors to enter the homes, according to prosecutors and court records.
In a June 2009 home invasion, Scott threw a cinder block through a door to break into a Fort Washington home. He ordered a 17-year-old girl to undress, put a pillowcase over her head, then fondled her while taking photographs and videos, court documents say.
In another home invasion, Scott and another man held a Bowie family at gunpoint while searching their home for items to steal. After getting their ATM cards, Scott demanded the PIN numbers, then withdrew money from the accounts and stole a Mercedes, according to court records.
Scott took computers, televisions, credit cards and phones in other break-ins.
In arguing for a punishment of at least 100 years behind bars, prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memorandum that, “Remarkably, this would equate to less than three years for each incident in which the defendant broke into others’ homes or businesses between 2007 and 2009.”
Scott “systemically and repeatedly committed these crimes,” prosecutors wrote.
He has been in custody since July 2009, when he was charged with selling stolen firearms in a UPS parking lot.
