The family of a murdered 8-year-old girl saidTuesday that they are frustrated the child?s killer will not return to death row.
“It?s a shame,” said Roberto Vaddy, 70, Marciana Ringo?s great-grandfather, who sat in the courtroom as a Baltimore County Circuit Court jury sentenced Jamaal Abeokuto, 27, of Baltimore, to life in prison without the possibility of parole. “He gets to see his family. I?ll never see my great-granddaughter again. He took her from me. That was my best friend. She used to call me all the time.”
Abeokuto admitted abducting Marciana on Dec. 3, 2002, taking her to a wooded area in Harford County, and killing her by slitting her throat and kicking her in the head. He was initially sentenced to death.
But Maryland?s highest court last year overturned the death penalty in Abeokuto?s case and ordered another sentencing hearing.
Abeokuto was a boyfriend of Marciana?s mother, Milagro White. Marciana and her brother Marc Ringo Jr. called Abeokuto “Daddy-mall” and would run to greet him at their door, according to the Court of Appeals.
Jurors on Tuesday asked several questions ? including whether they could force Abeokuto to carry a picture of Marciana and if they could consider the brutality of the crime ? before reaching the sentence.
Marciana?s grandfather, Gerald White, 45, said he would not be upset if Abeokuto is assaulted behind bars.
“Things happen in prison,” White said. “Whatever happens to him, I?m sure he deserves it. The state did a fabulous job with the case. You just never know what a jury is going to decide.”
Still, family members said they took consolation in knowing Abeokuto will never walk the streets again.
“At least we know where he is,” Vaddy said.
Harford County State?s Attorney Joseph Cassilly, who argued the case himself, apologized to family members after the jury announced its verdict.
“I?m sorry,” hesaid.
