Three Arrests Made In Homicide Investigation

BERLIN – Authorities made three arrests this week in connection with the reported murder of a 42-year-old woman who was found dead earlier this month along a dirt road near Pocomoke.

Judy Lynn Wojcik’s body was discovered on Sunday, Jan. 13. Her body was immediately transferred to the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Baltimore for an autopsy. According to a release from the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office and the Worcester County Bureau of Investigation, the medical examiner ruled Wojcik’s death a homicide and determined blunt force trauma caused her death.

Early Wednesday morning police arrested Kendall Northam, 19, of Pocomoke City after a short chase. Shawn Treherne, 23, of Oak Hall, Va., was also taken into custody, with the help of the U.S. Marshals service and the Prince George’s County Criminal taskforce, near Bowie, Md. A preliminary background search revealed this is the first brush with the law for both Northam and Treherne.

Later on Wednesday evening, David Justice, 20, of Pocomoke, was arrested in connection with the case. Unlike Northam and Treherne, Justice has been in trouble with the law multiple times. On Jan. 12, 2008, Justice was charged in Wicomico County for possession of a controlled dangerous substance (CDS)-marijuana and possession CDS paraphernalia. Justice is slated to go to trial on those charges on March 24.  Previously, in September 2004, Justice was charged with first and second-degree assault, malicious destruction of property under $500 and theft less than $500. In November 2004, the first-degree assault charge was dismissed and the remained charges were not prosecuted.

All three men have been charged with first- and second-degree murder,  first and second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, robbery, manslaughter and theft less than $100.

Although police are still investigating her death, Wojcik’s background is well known to some in the area. Wojcik and another man were arrested in two years ago and charged with theft scheme, multiple counts of theft under $500 and possession of crack cocaine and paraphernalia after Ocean City police detectives linked her to a scam that involved door-to-door soliciting for donations to local charities and organizations including the Atlantic General Hospital’s Penguin Swim.

In April 2006, Wojcik was found guily of possession of crack cocaine and sentenced to 270 days in prison. She was also found guilty of one count of theft under $500 and was sentenced to another 90 days.

Anyone with information on the homicide is asked to call 410-632-1111.

About The Author: Steven Green

Alternative Text

The writer has been with The Dispatch in various capacities since 1995, including serving as editor and publisher since 2004. His previous titles were managing editor, staff writer, sports editor, sales account manager and copy editor. Growing up in Salisbury before moving to Berlin, Green graduated from Worcester Preparatory School in 1993 and graduated from Loyola University Baltimore in 1997 with degrees in Communications (journalism concentration) and Political Science.