Wednesday, April 23 - Suspect Charged In WOC Murder

WEST OCEAN CITY - A West Ocean City man was being held behind bars without bond yesterday after being charged with first-degree murder and assault charges in the death of a woman discovered deceased on the floor of her home in the Mystic Harbour neighborhood on Monday afternoon.

Robert Antonio Murillo, 28, of Berlin, was taken into custody Tuesday and charged with first-degree murder and first- and second-degree assault in the death of Cecilia D. Parker, 56, also of Berlin. Parker was found unconscious and with injuries, consistent with an apparent stabbing, on the floor of her home at 30 Deep Channel Drive in the Mystic Harbour community in West Ocean City shortly after noon on Monday. While little has been released about Murillo, it appears from tax records he lives at 27 Deep Channel Drive just a few houses away from the victim.

Shortly after noon on Monday, the Maryland State Police Berlin barrack received a 911 call for what was believed to be an injured person at a residence in the Mystic Harbor community in West Ocean City. Troopers and emergency personnel responded to the residence on Deep Channel Drive and found the victim, lying on the floor unconscious. Troopers and fire department personnel soon determined Parker was deceased.

The investigation began when a co-worker of Parker's went to her home to check on her when she did not show up for work on Monday morning. When the co-worker arrived at the home, he determined the victim was in need of medical assistance. When investigators arrived, they saw what appeared to be injuries on the victim's body.

Although the cause and manner of death have not been determined at this time, sources say the victim suffered numerous stab wounds. The victim's body has been transported to the Office of the Medical Examiner in Baltimore for a complete autopsy.

For more on this story, and others, see The Dispatch print edition and website on Friday morning.