EDGEWOOD, MD — Harford County prosecutors have announced the sentencing of a woman who was convicted of brutally beating a 71-year-old man to death in Edgewood. The victim, Gerald Champ, suffered fatal blows to his skull with a crowbar, according to authorities.

Discovery of the Crime

On February 18, 2022, at approximately 7:56 a.m., Harford County sheriff’s deputies responded to a distressing 911 call at 2310 Perry Ave. in Edgewood. Champ’s daughter had discovered her father’s lifeless body in his home. Disturbingly, family members had been unable to contact Champ for several days, and it was also noticed that his 2003 Ford Explorer was missing from the property, indicating a potential connection to the crime.

Details of the Homicide

An autopsy conducted later revealed that Champ’s death resulted from severe blunt force trauma. The autopsy report highlighted prong-like defects embedded in Champ’s skull, multiple skull fractures, as well as defensive wounds on his hands and arms. Investigators discovered a crowbar inside Champ’s residence, which was identified as the murder weapon. The investigation led to the identification of several suspects, including Ashley Pearl Zentz, a 36-year-old woman who had known the victim and his family for over two decades.

Additional Crimes and Connections

Family members of the victim subsequently found Champ’s missing Ford Explorer abandoned in Baltimore County, near the location of a separate home invasion. Court documents revealed that Zentz and a co-defendant were involved in this home invasion, which occurred within 24 hours of the estimated time of Champ’s murder. Moreover, a stolen silver Infiniti QX80 from the Baltimore County incident was later recovered less than a mile from Zentz’s parents’ residence. Prosecutors cited compelling forensic evidence such as DNA, cell phone downloads, and surveillance video, which linked Zentz to both the Harford County murder and the Baltimore County home invasion.

Sentencing and Impact Statement

Following a six-day trial in October, the state prosecution requested a life sentence for the first-degree murder charge, with all but 72 years suspended, as well as an additional five-year sentence for motor vehicle theft, to be served consecutively. However, on December 18, Zentz received a modified sentencing of life imprisonment, with all but 60 years suspended. Additionally, she was sentenced to five years for the motor vehicle theft count, also running consecutively.

State’s Attorney Alison M. Healey praised the sentence, stating, “This significant sentence is a huge victory for the safety of Harford County and removes a violent murderer from our community for decades to come. I commend Mr. Champ’s daughter for her courage in delivering such a graceful and sincere victim impact statement during sentencing. It is my sincere hope that this sentence provides some closure to Mr. Champ’s entire family and affords them some peace in knowing the person responsible for his death was brought to justice.”