10.21.11: Wagner Sentenced to Life Plus 20 Years
October 21, 2011 -- Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Charles Peters sentenced John Wagner today to life plus 20 consecutive years for the murder and attempted armed robbery of Johns Hopkins researcher Stephen Pitcairn.
Pitcairn was fatally stabbed in July of 2010 as he walked home from Penn Station along St. Paul Street.
"We continue to express our deepest condolences to the Pitcarin family and all of Stephen's friends. While the verdict and sentence cannot bring him back, we hope that his family and friends will find some measure of closure in the result." State's Attorney Gregg L. Bernstein said. "This case is representative of the State's Attorney's Office continued efforts to successfully prosecute repeat violent offenders, and thereby make Baltimore a safer place."
Assistant State's Attorney Josh Felsen prosecuted the case.
Co-Defendant Lavelea Merritt's sentencing is scheduled on November 7, 2011.