THIS PROGRAM IS MADE BY MPT TO ENRICH THE DIVERSE COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT OUR STATE AND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR MEMBERS.

THANK YOU.

CONNECTING MARREDDERS TO THEIR GOVERNMENT, THIS IS "STATE CIRCLE".

>> Jeff: WELCOME TO "STATE CIRCLE".

JUST AHEAD ON OUR PROGRAM THIS WEEK, WHY SCAM ART TIFTDS ARE TARGETING MARREDDERS IN PARTICULAR.

AND NEW INFORMATION EMERGES ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF A NEWSROOM KILLING SPREE.

FIRST, ALLEGATIONS OF BIAS IN DECISION MAKING BY A FORMER STATE MEDICAL EXAMINER.

A REVIEW ALLEGES THAT DOZENS OF POLICE INVOLVED DEATHS SHOULD HAVE BEEN LABELED AS HOMICIDES.

[♪♪] OUR NEWSMAKER THIS WEEK IS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF MARYLAND, ANTHONY BROWN.

SIR, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> IT'S GREAT TO BE WITH YOU.

NOT MY FIRST TIME AND ALWAYS A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE YOUR VIEWERS ON THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN STATE GOVERNMENT AND IN THIS CASE IN THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

>> Jeff: AND WE'RE SPECIFICALLY INTERESTED IN WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE OFFICE OF THE STATE MEDICAL EXAMINER.

THERE WAS A LONG STUDY DONE, ABOUT FOUR YEARS, WHAT WERE THE FINDINGS OF THAT?

>> ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO YOU ARE RIGHT, THE FORMER GOVERNOR HOE GAB AND MY PREDECESSOR BRIAN FRAUSH THEY RESPONDED TO AN OUTCRY FROM THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY.

AND THE OUTCRY WAS THAT A FORMER CHIEF MEDICAL EXAMINER OF MARYLAND DO FOWLER WHO TESTIFIED IN THE MURDER TRIAL OF DEREK SHOW VEN ACCUSED OF CHAUVIN ACCUSED OF MURDERING GEORGE FLOYD AND CONVICTED.

Dr. FOWLER PROVIDED TESTIMONY THAT SHOCKED THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY.

THEY WROTE A LETTER TO THE GOVERNOR AND BRIAN FRAUSH AND THE LETTER SAYS LOOK AT THE WORK OF THE OFFICE OF THE CHIEF MEDICAL EXAMINER N MARYLAND BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY SAID THAT THERE IS THE LIKELIHOOD OF RACIAL BIAS AND PRO POLICE BIAS IN THE AUTOPSY RESULTS BY UNDER HIS TENURE.

THAT IS WHAT THE AUDIT DID.

IT LOOKED AT THE ALMOST 20-YEAR PERIOD UNDER Dr. FOWLER LOOKED AT AUTOPSIES TO DETERMINE WHETHER THERE WAS OR WAS NOT BIAS.

>> Jeff: AND I UNDERSTAND THERE WERE 36 CASES WHERE THE REVIEWERS DETERMINED THE MANNER OF DEATH HAD BEEN HOMICIDE.

BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT THE STATE MEDICAL EXAMINER AT THE TIME FOUND.

TELL US, GLOBALBY ABOUT THOSE CASES.

>> I WILL START WITH THE CONTEXT.

WE STARTED WITH IDENTIFYING CASES WHERE THE DESEED END WAS IN POLICE CUSTODY 1300 CASES.

AND THEY NARROWED IT DOWN TO CASES WHERE THE SCENE WAS RESTRAINED BY POLICE.

BECAUSE RESTRAINT AND CUSTODY ARE TWO THINGS.

YOU CAN BE IN THE BACK OF A POLICE CAR AND NOT RESTRAINED.

YOU COULD BE SITTING ON A CURB IN THE CITY YOU ARE IN POLICE CUSTODY BUT NOT RESTRAINED.

WHERE THERE WAS RESTRAINT AND THEN FURTHER NARROWED IT AND IT WAS ABOUT ROUGHLY 80 PLUS OR MINUS CASES WHERE THE DESEED END'S DEATH WAS IMMEDIATELY OCCURRING AT THE TIME OF RESTRAINT.

AND THAT'S WHERE YOU GOT THE 80 PLUS CASES.

AND THEN THEY LOOKED AT THOSE.

AND THERE WERE A NUMBER OF CASES WHERE THE MANNER OF DEATH WAS UNDETERMINED.

AND THE DIFFERENT MANNERS OF DEATH ARE UNDETERMINED HOMICIDE, ACCIDENT OR SUICIDE.

OUR INDEPENDENT AUDITORS LOOKED AT ALL 86 OF THOSE CASES AND SAID, HEY, IN 36 CASES WHERE THE MEDICAL EXAMINER SAID UNDETERMINED WE THINK IT WAS A HOMICIDE.

AND IT WAS UNANIMOUS ASSESSMENT OR DETERMINATION BY THREE INDEPENDENT AUDITORS IN EACH OF THOSE CASES.

BY HOMICIDE WE DON'T MEAN CRIMINAL CULPABILITY.

IT MEANS BUT FOR HUMAN ACTIVITY THIS PERSON WOULD NOT HAVE DIED.

>> Jeff: SO A FINDING OF HOMICIDE AS A MANNER OF DEATH DOES NOT MEAN A CRIME WAS NECESSARILY COMMITTED NOR THAT SOMEBODY IS GUILTY OF THAT CRIME?

>> THAT IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.

YOU COULD HAVE A SITUATION WHERE I'M JUST MAKING SOMETHING UP, YOU QUICKLY ESPECIALLY UP THE DOOR, YOUR 98-YEAR-OLD GRANDPARENT WAS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF IT AND THEY FELL DOWN THE STEPS THEY DIED.

AND A MEDICAL EXAMINER COULD IN THAT CASE SAY IT WAS A HOMICIDE BUT FOR THE RAPID OPENING OF THAT DOOR THAT CAUSED GRANDPARENT TO FALL DOWN THE STEPS THEY WOULD NOT HAVE DIED.

SOME COULD ARGUE IT COULD BE AN ACCIDENT.

BUT AGAIN IT HAS TO BE THE RESULT OF HUMAN ACTIVITY.

>> Jeff: NOW IN THE CONTEXT OF A POLICE INTERACTION WITH SOMEBODY OR RESTRANTD -- RESTRAINT OR CUSTODY THERE IS THE POTENTIAL A CRIME COULD HAVE BEEN COMMITTED IN ONE OR MORE OF THESE CASES AND MIGHT NEED TO BE INVESTIGATED.

SO WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

>> ONE OF THE OUTCOMES, THE RESULTS OF THE AUDIT, IS THAT THE GOVERNOR, GOVERNOR MOORE ISSUED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER.

AND IN THE EXECUTIVE ORDER, IT DOES A NUMBER OF THINGS; IT DIRECTS THE OCME TO DO A FEW THINGS AND THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

IT ALSO THE EXECUTIVE ORDER CREATE AS A STSK TO LOOK AT HOW A DEATH INVESTIGATIONS ARE PERFORMED.

BUT THE OTHER PART IS THE EXECUTIVE ORDER DIRECTS THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, DIRECTS ME AS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO WORK IN CONSULTATION WITH LOCAL STATES ATTORNEYS WHERE THESE DEATHS OCCURRED TO LOOK AT ALL THE INFORMATION BEYOND THE AUTOPSY FILE, BUT TO LOOK AT POLICE RECORDS AND THE TYPES OF THINGS THAT A PROSECUTOR WOULD DO TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THIS HOMICIDE DETERMINATION BY THE MEDICAL EXAMINER WARRANTS FURTHER CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION AND PERHAPS EVEN PROSECUTION.

BUT I REALLY NEED TO EMPHASIZE THAT THESE 36 DETERMINATIONS DO NOT MEAN THAT THERE IS CRIMINAL CULPABILITY IN THESE CASES.

>> Jeff: I READ THAT THERE WAS A RACIAL ASPECT TO THE FINDINGS.

AND THAT THE PEOPLE REVIEWING THESE CASES WERE SPECIFICALLY NOT TOLD THE RACES OF ANY OF THE INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED.

>> SURE.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT ONE OF THE METHODOLOGIES AND SCIENTIFICALLY APPROVED AND ACCEPTED WHEN YOU ARE DOING THIS KIND OF STUDY AND I SHOULD SAY THIS IS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND.

BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT COMPARABLE STUDIES WE REDACTED ALL PERSONAL IDENTIFYING INFORMATION OR CERTAINLY THOSE THAT WOULD SUGGEST RACE.

WE REDACTED THE RACE OF THE PERSON.

THEIR HAIR COLOR.

THEIR EYE COLOR.

HAIR TEXTURE.

WE EVEN REDACTED WHERE THEY WERE FROM WHILE THE EXAMINER MAY HAVE KNOWN IT WAS IN A PARTICULAR JURISDICTION, THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHERE THE PERSON WAS FROM.

SO THIS WAY, THE INDEPENDENT REVIEWER WOULD NOT KNOW THE RACIAL IDENTITY OF THE DESEED DENT AND THE PATHOLOGIST THAT DID THE AUTOPSY.

AND THEN THEY LOOKED AT THE AUTOPSY INFORMATION, THE FILE, DIDN'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE PHOTOGRAPHS OR ANY VIDEOS.

THEY MADE AN INDEPENDENT DETERMINATION AND THEN THEY WERE LATER SHOWN THE PHOTOGRAPHS AND ASKED DOES THAT CHANGE YOUR DETERMINATION?

AND IN ONLY 3% OF THE CASES IT DID.

WE USED REALLY GOOD CONTROLS TO ENSURE THAT THE DATA WAS REVIEWED, IT WAS FREE OF RACIAL BIAS, AND, YET, IT WAS ABLE TO IDENTIFY JUST THE STATISTICALLY SPEAKING THERE IS A PROBABILITY, A POSSIBILITY OF RACIAL BIAS IN THE ORIGINAL DETERMINATIONS.

>> Jeff: THERE WAS SOME RECOMMENDATIONS MADE TO THE LEGISLATURE.

WHAT SORT OF CHANGES WOULD BE IN ORDER GOING FORWARD?

>> WE BRIEFED THE LEGISLATURE RECENTLY.

AND WE WERE ASKED THAT VERY QUESTION.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE RECOMMENDATIONS COMING OUT OF THIS OCME AUDIT REPORT, NONE OF THEM REALLY REQUIRE LEGISLATION.

AS YOU AND YOUR VIEWERS KNOW THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY CAN PASS LEGISLATION ON A HOST OF AREAS.

FOR EXAMPLE, ONE OF THEM IS TO ENSURE THAT OCME IS INCORPORATING THE LATEST NATIONAL STANDARDS YOU DON'T NEED LEGISLATION FOR THAT ALTHOUGH YOU COULD PASS LEGISLATION.

SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE TO DO WITH INCORPORATING MORE TRAINING FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT WHEN IT COMES TO APPROPRIATE USE OF RESTRAINTS.

AGAIN, YOU DON'T NEED LEGISLATION FOR THAT.

THE MARYLAND COMMISSION COULD DO THAT LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT COULD DO THAT.

BUT, SURE, THE LEGISLATURE COULD PASS LEGISLATION BUT IT'S NOT REQUIRED.

>> Jeff: THANKS TO ATTORNEY GENERAL BROWN AND ASSOCIATE OF THE FORMER MEDICAL EXAMINER, SAID HE WOULD HAVE NO COMMENT ON THE REPORT.

NOW, THIS SATURDAY MARKS SEVEN YEARS SINCE A GUNMAN STORMED INTO THE OFFICES OF THE ANNAPOLIS CAPITAL GAZETTE NEWSPAPER.

STAFFERS ROB HIAASEN, WENDI WINTERS, JOHN MCNAMARA, REBECCA SMITH AND GERALD FISCHMAN WERE KILLED.

THE PAPER'S FORMER EDITOR AND PUBLISHER TOM MARQUARDT HAS NOW WRITTEN "PRESSED TO KILL: INSIDE NEWSPAPERS' WORST MASS MURDER".

TOM, THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING WITH US.

THI IS A CLICHE FIRST QUESTION TO ASK AN AUTHOR BUT I IMAGINE THE ANSWER MIGHT BE COMPLEX.

WHY DID YOU WRITE THIS BOOK?

>> IT IS COMPLEX BUT THE BOOK WAS WRITTEN PRIMARILY TO MEMORIALIZE THOSE PEOPLE WHO DIED IN THIS TRAGIC INCIDENT.

IF IT WASN'T FOR THE BOOK, THEN IT WOULD BE A FADING HEADLINE THAT OCCURRED IN 2018.

BUT THIS MEMORIALIZES THEM.

SECOND OF ALL IT'S HISTORY.

IT'S NOT ONLY HISTORY OF JOURNALISM, THE WORST MASS MURDER IN NEWSPAPER HISTORY, BUT IT'S ALSO ANNAPOLIS' HISTORY.

IF YOU LOOK AT WIKIPEDIA LISTED IS GEORGE WASHINGTON, AND ALSO THE WORST MASS MURDER IN UNITED STATES HISTORY.

SO IT DESERVES TO BE PRESERVED.

>> Jeff: TALK ABOUT THE INDIVIDUALS, THE IMPACT OF THIS.

WE LISTED THE NAMES.

CERTAINLY THEY ARE THE VICTIMS.

THEY AND THEIR FAMILIES THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO WERE IN THE NEWSROOM AND SURVIVED.

THERE WERE PEOPLE WOULD WORKED THERE WHO HAPPENED TO BE OUT OF THE OFFICE THEY WERE AFFECTED, THEIR FAMILIES WERE AFFECTED.

ALL THESE PEOPLE FOREVER SCARED BY THIS.

>> YES.

AND, JEFF, THAT IS AN IMPORTANT CIRCLE IT'S LIKE A RIPPLING EFFECT.

THE PEOPLE WHO HAD SPOUSES WHO DIED AND THOSE WHO ESCAPED THAT DAY, HAD TRAUMATIC RESULTS.

BUT THERE IS A WIDER CIRCLE OF PEOPLE WHO JUST DON'T GET RECORDED.

THE FIRST-RESPONDERS.

MANY SUFFERED PTSD AS A RESULT OF THIS AND MANY WITNESSES THIS ACROSS THE HALL.

THERE ARE PEOPLE LIKE ME THAT REPORTER AND OTHER PEOPLE WHO WERE INVOLVED IN THE ORIGINAL CASE HERE THAT REALLY HAD TREMENDOUS IMPACT FOR YEARS.

>> Jeff: THE GUNMAN SPECIFICALLY WANTED YOU DEAD.

BUT YOU HAD RETIRED BY THAT POINT?

>> THAT WAS ONE OF THE DISCOVERIES THAT I MADE IN DOING THE RESEARCH FOR THIS BOOK.

YES, HE WANTED ME DEAD AND HE TOLD THE STATE PSYCHIATRIST HIS GREATEST REGREAT WAS NOT KILLING ME.

DURING THE TIME OF THIS INCIDENT IT WAS NOT CLEAR THAT HE WANTED ME DEAD.

HE WAS SUGGESTING THAT I DIE.

AND THAT WENT ON FOR YEARS.

HE SUED US.

AND WHEN HE DID, I HAD RETIRED.

THE LAWSUIT WAS STILL PENDING WHEN I LEFT.

BUT IT WASN'T FOR SEVEN YEARS AFTER THE STORY RAN THAT HE DECIDED AFTER FAILING IN COURT TO TAKE HIS REVENGE OUT WITH A WEAPON.

>> Jeff: SO THIS INDIVIDUAL WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM?

HE HAD BEEN CONVICTED IN A SEXUAL HARASSMENT CASE AND THE PAPER COVERED IT.

AND THEN HE DID HE SUE THE PAPER?

>> YES.

AFTER THE STORY RAN WHICH WAS A TYPICAL STORY THAT NEWSPAPER PUBLISHES, ESPECIALLY CAPITAL, AND SO HE TOOK AFTER US ON SOCIAL MEDIA OVER 800 TWEETS AGAINST US.

AND THEN SUED US FOR DEFAMATION.

HE LOST EVERY ROUND, INCLUDING HIS APPEAL.

AND ONCE THAT EXPIRED HE BASICALLY WENT SILENT FOR SEVERAL YEARS WE THOUGHT, WRONGLY HE HAD GIVEN UP AND GONE ON WITH HIS LIFE.

LITTLE DID WE KNOW HE WAS PLOTTING A MURDER.

>> Jeff: IN REPORTING THIS, YOU DISCOVERED A THREAT ASSESSMENT OF SOME TYPE THAT HAD NOT BEEN SHARED WITH THE PAPER?

>> THAT WAS ONE OF THE GREAT DISCOVERIES.

AND, AGAIN, I'M GOING THROUGH ALL THESE FILES AND LEARNING THERE HAD BEEN A THREAT ASSESSMENT DONE BY A RELATIVE OF SOMEBODY INVOLVED IN DEFENDING THE ORIGINAL WOMAN WHO WAS HARASSED.

IT WAS LIKE WOULD YOU TAKE A LOOK AND SEE WHAT YOU THINK?

AND THE GUY WAS A PROFESSIONAL THREAT ASSESSOR IN WASHINGTON D.C.

HE LOOKED AT IT AND HE TOLD HIS BROTHER-IN-LAW HE SAID STY AWAY FROM THIS GUY HE HAS ALL THE SYMPTOMS.

HE DID NOT SHARE THAT WITH THE NEWSPAPER.

HE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE JUDGES WHO WERE UNDER THREAT BUT HE NEVER SHARED IT WITH ME.

>> Jeff: YOU ALSO FOUND NEW INFORMATION IN A REPORT BY THE STATE PSYCHIATRIST.

>> THAT WAS THE MOST REVEALING THING.

THIS KILLER NEVER TALKED TO THE POLICE.

WHEN HE WAS APPREHENDED HE DIDN'T GIVE HIS NAME.

FOR HOURS THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHO HE WAS.

ONCE HE WAS CHARGED, THE STATE'S PSYCHIATRIST INTERVIEWED HIM TO DETERMINE IF HE WAS SAME OR INSANE FOR 20 HOURS THE GUY TALKED ABOUT WHY HE HATED THE NEWSPAPER SO MUCH.

WHAT HE DID, HOW HE DID IT.

AND EVERYTHING FROM HIS CHILDHOOD THAT HE THOUGHT LED UP TO THIS INCIDENT.

THE DETAILS IN THAT REPORT ARE SO CHILLING, THAT I USED AS MUCH OF AT THAT TIME INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE JUST TO DEMONSTRATE THE DEPTH OF THIS GUY'S DEPRAVITY.

>> Jeff: YOU DECIDED IN WRITING THE BOOK THAT TO NAME THIS VISIT YOU USED A PSEUDONYM.

IS THAT SOMETHING YOU WRESTLED WITH?

>> I DID WRESTLE WITH IT.

EVERYTHING IN THE BOOK IS FACTUAL EXCEPT FOR THAT.

AS A JOURNALIST I STRUGGLE WITH THAT BECAUSE IT IS ONE OF THE ELEMENTS OF JOURNALISM.

AS I THOUGHT ABOUT IT, AND AS I GOT INTO THE BOOK I REALIZED THE USE IS GLORIFIED IT WAS DEEP THE NAMES OF THOSE THAT DIED THAT SHOULD BE MEMORIALIZED NOT THE GUY WHO COMMITTED THE CRIME.

AS YOU READ INTO THE BOOK, BY GLORIFYING THESE KILLERS, IT ENCOURAGES OTHERS TO DO THE SAME THING.

SO I WAS WORRIED THAT THAT MAY HAPPEN HE WOULD BE HELD UP ON A PEDESTAL FOR ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL.

>> Jeff: WHAT HAS BEEN THE REACTION TO THE BOOK?

>> ANYBODY WHO READ IT REACTED POSITIVELY.

SURPRISINGLY, SEVERAL PEOPLE TOLD ME THEY WERE SO CAUGHT UP BY THE TRAGEDY THEY HAD TO PUT THE BOOK DOWN BECAUSE THEY WERE MOVED TO TEARS.

THIS IS A HUMAN TRAGEDY TO A GREAT EXTENT BUT IT IS ALSO A BOOK THAT TELLS WHAT COULD HAPPEN AGAIN AND HOW TO IDENTIFY A MASS KILLER IN YOUR MIDST AND IT CAN HAPPEN IN SMALL CITIES.

THE REACTION HAS BEEN QUITE POSITIVE.

THE BALTIMORE NEWSPAPERS AND MY OLD NEWSPAPER CHOSE NOT TO DO A STORY ABOUT IT.

>> Jeff: LET'S BROADEN IT OUT TO THE THREAT OF WORKPLACE VIOLENCE EVERYWHERE.

IN THIS COUNTRY, WE HAVE A LOT OF GUNS MORE GUNS THAN WE HAVE PEOPLE.

WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH VARIOUS GRIEVANCES.

I MEAN IF YOU WERE BACK IN A NEWSROOM SITUATION WHERE NOT ONLY THREATS COMING IN, PEOPLE SENDING NASTY LETTERS OR WHATEVER BUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA IT'S ALMOST HARD TO KEEP TRACK.

WHAT WOULD YOU ADVISE SOMEBODY IN AN EDITOR PUBLISHER ROLE GOING FORWARD?

>> WE HAVE TO BE CONSCIOUS OF THE SAFETY OF YOUR EMPLOYEES.

THEY ARE OUT THERE NOW, KNOWING WHAT WE KNOW NOW THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO WILL TAKE THEIR GRIEVANCE ANDS AGAINST A REPORTER.

YOU HAVE TO MAKE HAD SURE THEY ARE AWARE OF THEIR SURROUNDINGS.

AND THE ELEMENT OF IDENTIFYING PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO DO HARM.

THE CHARACTERISTICS IN THIS GUY WHO DID THIS CRIME ARE FAIRLY TYPICAL OF SOMEBODY WHO IS A MASS MURDERER.

THE PROFILE IS NOT EVER THE SAME EVERY TIME.

BUT THERE ARE ELEMENTS HERE IN WHICH THEY ARE ANGRY THEY FORECASTED THEIR INTENTIONS ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

THEY WERE COLLECTING INJUSTICES.

THIS GUY HAD AN INJUSTICE WITH A WOMAN WHO CHARGED HIM WITH SEXUAL HARASSMENT AGAINST THE NEWSPAPER, AGAINST THE JUDGES WHO TURNED DOWN HIS APPEALS.

THERE WERE MANY GRIEVANCES.

HE WAS A LONER.

HE HAD A HARD TIME FINDING A DATE.

HE JUST DID NOT ADJUST TO REJECTION.

THOSE ELEMENTS WILL MATERIALIZE.

AND I THINK WHAT CAN YOU DO?

YOU CALL THE POLICE LIKE WE DID.

BUT THE POLICE ARE LIMITED IN WHAT THEY CAN DO.

BUILDING IN THERE IS A PHYSICAL THREAT THEY CANNOT DO ANYTHING.

YOUR BEST OPTION IS TO AVOID THIS PERSON AT ALL COSTS.

>> Jeff: MAKES ME THINK OF DOMESTIC SITUATIONS WHERE SOMEBODY IS THREATENED THEY CAN GET A RESTRAINING ORDER WHICH SOMETIMES ISN'T WORTH THE PAPER IT'S PRINTED ON.

>> HOW MANY TIMES WE HEARD SOMEBODY BREAKING A RESTRAINING ORDER AND KILLING THEIR FORMER SPOUSE AND WE HAD THAT OPTION AGAINST THIS DIE.

WE COULD HAVE FILED A RESTRAINING ORDER AS WELL WE FELT THAT WOULD ONLY INFLAME THE SITUATION AND THEY AWAY FROM IT.

THAT IS THE OPTION WE TOOK.

I DON'T THINK IT WOULD HAVE STOPPED THE GUY.

>> Jeff: TELL US ABOUT THE TITLE PRESS PRESS.

>> IT IS A TAKE OFF -- PRESSED TO KILL.

AND HE FELT PRESSED TO KILL.

THAT PLAYS INTO THAT.

BUT THE REST OF THE TITLE INSIDE NEWSPAPERS MASS MURDER IS MORE IMPORTANT BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS HISTORIC AND NEEDS TO BE WRITTEN.

>> Jeff: WELL, TOM MARQUARDT HAS DONE THE WRITING.

"PRESSED TO KILL: INSIDE NEWSPAPERS' WORST MASS MURDER".

TOM, THANK YOU FOR TALKING WITH ME.

>> THANK YOU, JEFF.

>> Jeff: TURNING TO CONSUMER NEWS A HIGH RANKING MARYLAND THAT COMES WITH A WARNING.

NANCY AMATA REPORTS THAT MARYLANDERS ARE A FREQUENT TARGET OF SAMES.

>> SCAMS.

>> THEY SAID WELL NO ONE IS INJURED AND NO ONE IS IN JAIL.

I SAID THAT IS A GOOD START.

>> BUT THAT CALL FROM THE BALTIMORE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT DID NOT END WELL.

RALPH WAS TOLD HE MISSED JURY DUTY AND THERE WAS A WARRANT FOR HIS ARREST.

>> YOU SHOW THAT TO A POLICEMAN AND THEY STOP YOU YOU WILL GET YOUR MONEY BACK.

YOU KNOW EVERY TIME I DO IT IN SLOW MOTION I AM AN ATTORNEY.

I KNOW THAT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE DOESN'T HAVE A BONDING AGENT ON.

BUT YOU'RE CAUGHT UP ON IT.

>> HE WAS INSTRUCTED TO GO TO A ATM TO MAKE THE TRANSFER.

HE WAS CONVINCED THE CALL WAS LEGIT AND HIT SEND TO THE TUNE OF $3500.

>> AND WHEN THE RECEIPT CAME OUT I SAW BITCOIN ON THE RECEIPT.

AND I THOUGHT OOPS AND I CALLED MY BANK AND IT TOOK ME A MINUTE-AND-A-HALF TO TALK TO MY BANK.

AND THE MONEY WAS GONE THAT QUICK.

>> HE IS NOT ALONE.

ACCORDING TO THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION MARYLAND IS FIFTH IN THE NATION FOR FRAUD.

>> THIS IS AN AFFLUENT AREA SO PEOPLE HAVE THESE RESOURCES THAT SCAMMERS LIKE.

>> KAREN MORGAN IS A MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL OF AARP MARYLAND AND THE SCAMS COME VIA CELLPHONE, TEXT AND E-MAIL AND RUN THE GAMUT FROM TECH SUPPORT SCAMS, ROMANCE SCAMS AND TOLL SCAMS SAYING SOMEONE DIDN'T PAY THEIR TOLL.

>> THEY WANT TO CATCH PEOPLE UP AWARE AND SEND THEM INTO A STATE OF PANIC, FEAR OR GREAT JOY BECAUSE THEY WON THE LOTTERY THEY KNOW THEY DIDN'T ENTER.

AND THEN THEY WANT THEM TO ACT WITHOUT THINKING.

>> ANOTHER COMMON ONE IS A REQUEST FOR GIFT CARDS TO GET OUT OF TROUBLE.

>> CRIMINALS LOVE GIFT CARDS BECAUSE THEY ARE UNTRACEABLE YOU CAN MOVE AMOUNTS IN MONEY THAT MAKES IT EASY TO LAUNDER MONEY.

>> LAST YEAR, THE MARYLAND LEGISLATURE PASSED THE FIRST LAW IN THE COUNTRY TO MAKE GIFT CARDS MORE TAMPER RESIST TENT AND SCAMMERS CHANGING THEIR GAME, SHE IS ENCOURAGING BANKS AND RETAILORS TO BETTER TRAIN EMPLOYEES TO LOOK FOR THE RED FLAGS AND FOR CONSUMERS TO BE SKEPTICAL WHEN INTERACTING WITH STRANGERS ON-LINE OR OVER THE PHONE.

>> JUST STOP.

FIVE MINUTES, TAKE FIVE MINUTES TO RAMP DOWN YOUR EMOTIONAL REACTION AND LET YOUR ANALYTICAL BRAIN COME TO THE FOREFRONT.

OR THE OTHER THING YOU CAN DO IS TALK TO YOUR FRAUD BUDDY.

GET A FRAUD BUDDY.

JUST ASK SOMEBODY THAT YOU TRUST LET ME RUN THIS BY YOU IF I RUN ACROSS SOMETHING WEIRD AND SEE WHAT YOU THINK.

>> THESE THINGS ARE SOPHISTICATED.

AND IF CRIME DIDN'T PAY PEOPLE WOULDN'T COMMIT IT AND IT WORKS.

>> A WARNING HE HOPES CONSUMERS WILL TAKE TO HEART.

I'M NANCY AMATA FOR "STATE CIRCLE".

>> Jeff: RESEARCHERS AT MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY ARE DRIVING INTO THE SEARCH FOR WAYS TO SAVE THE BAY.

CHARLES ROBINSON HAS THE STORY.

>> FOR THE LAST 60 YEARS, THE PATUXENT LABORATORY KNOWN AS PEARL, MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY STUDIED CRABS IN SOUTHERN MARYLAND ROBTD FERRIS SHOWS INTERNS HOW TO PREPARE THE CRAB TRAPS TO SURVEY THE POPULATION.

THE DOCTOR IS A FISHERY ECOLOGIST LOOKING AT EVERYTHING FROM BAY GRASSES TO OYSTER BEDS.

>> ALL OF THE RESTORATION EFFORTS THAT I'M FAMILIAR WITH, HAVE BEEN MONITORED FOR THEIR SUCCESS.

OR CONVERSELY THE FAILURE BUT THEY HAVE ALL BEEN SUCCESSFUL.

AND BY THE CRITERIA SET OUT BEFORE THE RESTORATIONS TOOK PLACE, THERE'S REALLY SUFFICIENT DENSITY AND NUMBERS OF OYSTERS THAT ARE SURVIVING ON THESE RESTORED SITES.

SO WE'RE ALL IN THE ENTIRE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY VERY PLEASED BY THE RESULTS OF THOSE ACTIVITIES.

>> THE RESTORATION OF OYSTERS IN THE BAY WATERWAYS FROM MARYLAND TO VIRGINIA IS A PART OF A NOAA PROJECT, AMANDA IS ONE OF THE PH.D.

CANDIDATES.

SHE IS USES MODERN TECHNIQUES SUCH AS A.I.

TO TRACK THE PROGRESS OF THEIR RESEARCH.

IT BEGINS IN THE LABORATORY.

THESE TANKS WHERE THEY GROW SPAT EVENTUALLY YOU HAVE TO TEST YOUR HYPOTHESIS IN THE FIELD.

>> WITH OUR RESEARCH LOOKING AT OYSTER RESTORATION AND LIVING HABITAT, WE MODEL THAT ON THE COMPUTER.

BUT ALL THAT DATA IS FROM REAL WORLD RESEARCH.

SO FIELD WORK AND SUCH LIKE THAT.

>> THE BASKETS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PIER ARE ESSENTIALLY A LIBRARY OF OYSTERS.

THAT ARE OYSTER AQUACULTURE TEAM HAS BEEN BREEDING FOR 34-RD OYSTER THAT IS MORE FRESH WATER TOLL RENT AND MORE TOLL RANTED AND MORE RESILIENT TO DISEASE.

>> BEHIND ME ARE OYSTER BEDS WHERE THEY GROW THE OYSTERS TO FULL SIZE.

ONCE THEY GET TO THAT POINT, THEY ARE THEN TAKEN OUT INTO THE TRIBUTARIES OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY WHERE THEY RECEDE OYSTER BEDS.

IT TAKES THEM A LOT TO GET TO THAT SIZE OVER TWO YEARS WHEN THEY ARE HARVESTABLE.

>> THE SIGNS MAKING THE BAY SUSTAINABLE FOR THE VARIED SPECIES CONTINUES TO EVOLVE WHILE PEOPLE ARE SOMETIMES BEHIND WHAT IS WRONG, THEY ALSO CAN PROVIDE ANSWERS TO THE MYRIAD OF CHALLENGES THE WATER FACES.

IN ST. LEONARD I'M CHARLES ROBINSON FOR "STATE CIRCLE".

>> Jeff: AND THAT IS "STATE CIRCLE" FOR THIS WEEK.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL SEE YOU BACK HERE MONDAY EVENING AT 7:00 P.M. FOR "DIRECT CONNECTION".

[♪♪]