Convicted kidnapper, suspect in Va. killings living in Stevensville
By SCOTT DAUGHERTY, Staff Writer Published September 09, 2007 Darrell David Rice spent 10 years in a federal prison for the attempted kidnapping of a woman in Shenandoah National Park in 1997.The 39-year-old was the government's prime suspect in a brutal double slaying of two hikers in the same park the year before.
His name made national headlines again in 2004 when federal prosecutors dropped capital murder charges against him, citing new forensic evidence that "could cast doubt" on their case.
Now he is living on Kent Island.
"I have been flooded with concerned phone calls," said Queen Anne's County Commissioner Gene M. Ransom III, D-Grasonville, explaining he's never had so many constituents call and e-mail him on a single topic. "I am getting bombarded."
Rice, formerly of Columbia, was released from a federal prison in Virginia on July 17, 2007 and promptly moved to Maryland, U.S. Probations and Parole officials said. He will be on supervised probation for three years and must wear a GPS-equipped ankle bracelet during that time, officials said.
"It's about the most extreme (monitoring) I have heard of," said Queen Anne's County State's Attorney Frank M. Kratovil. He added the community's concerns are legitimate, but stressed local and federal authorities are watching Rice.
Nevertheless, the Queen Anne's County Sheriff's Office said they can offer no assurances Rice is not a threat.
"We don't know," said Lt. Dale L. Patrick, a department spokesman. "I can't predict the future."
But Lenna Mays, Rice's mother and new housemate, said her son is not dangerous.
"My son's served his sentence and is a free man," she said, referring additional comments to her son's attorneys. She said the lawyers would contact
The Capital on Friday, but they had not called by 6 last night.
County, state and federal authorities refused to give Rice's exact address, but neighbors said he lives with his 68-year-old mother in Stevensville. Lt. Patrick also refused to release a photo of Rice, what kind of vehicle he drives, or even refer to him by name.
"We know of no crime he has committed in Queen Anne's County," Lt. Patrick said.
Charges, headlines
Rice's legal problems began in 1997, when he was arrested for the attempted abduction of Yvonne Malbasha. Prosecutors said Rice accosted the woman as she rode a bike in the park, screamed sexual demands at her and attempted to force her into his truck. He eventually pleaded guilty Sept. 22, 1998 to attempted kidnapping in federal court and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Four years later, in 2002, then-U.S. Attorney General John D. Ashcroft announced in a nationally televised news conference that Rice was the man responsible for the murders of Julianne Williams and Laura "Lollie" Winans. According to a transcript, Mr. Ashcroft described the May 1996 attack as a hate crime - the women were lesbians - and said Rice's hatred of women and homosexuality made him eligible for the death penalty.
But less than two years later, the federal case began to fall apart. New DNA evidence raised serious questions about his involvement,
The Washington Post reported.
Shortly before a federal judge dismissed the murder charges, Rice was charged in Prince William County, Virginia, with the abduction and assault of a Carmelita B. Shomo, of Quantico, Va.
According to
The Washington Post, Prince William Commonwealth's Attorney Paul B. Ebert said he thought Rice was the "Route 29 Stalker."
Police said the stalker tried to trick more than a dozen female drivers into pulling off the road in the mid-1990s, telling them there was something wrong with their cars and offering them rides.
Prosecutors quickly backed off those comments, however, and eventually negotiated a plea agreement with Rice. He did not have to admit guilt and did not receive any additional jail time, the paper reported.
The family of one of the slain women, hoping the Prince William case would give them some satisfaction in their own case, denounced the plea agreement.
"It's unfortunate he didn't get more time. I feel the guy is a predator, and it certainly would have made us feel more comfortable, but not in a vengeful sense," Tom Williams, Julianne's father, told
The Washington Post in 2005. "But at least it goes on his record as a conviction. I think clearly he doesn't keep being brought up as a suspect because authorities feel he's innocent. Clearly he has demonstrated he's a predator."
And Mr. Ebert agreed.
"I think he's certainly a viable suspect for the Route 29 Stalker," Mr. Ebert told the paper at the same time. "I think I would be concerned about his future conduct in society."
Continuing concern
In light of Rice's previous run-ins with the law, Kent Island residents are mad police and county leaders didn't notify them of their new neighbor.
"We should know that someone like that is living next door," said one woman who declined to give her name for fear of retaliation. She fears for the safety of her 14-year-old daughter, who attends Kent Island High School - located 2.5 miles from where Rice now lives. She learned about Rice from dozens of e-mails being circulated among concerned neighbors and high school parents.
"It's very scary," the parent said.
Queen Anne's Commission President Eric Wargotz, R-Centreville, and Commissioner Ransom said they learned of Rice from their constituents.
"I'm concerned about how we found out about it," said Mr. Ransom, calling on Queen Anne's County Sheriff R. Gery Hofmann III to do more to ease the fears of his constituents.
"He needs to get out and tell people what's going on," he said.
Mr. Wargotz said police should have let the people know about Rice.
"It's always best to know that there are folks such as this in the community," he said.
Sheriff Hofmann was out of the office Friday and unavailable for comment, but Lt. Patrick said they aren't allowed to talk about Rice. He said federal authorities told them shortly before Rice moved to Kent Island, but the information was "law enforcement sensitive and not for dissemination."
He noted that Rice is not a registered sex offender and that public notification is not mandated by law.
Addressing fears Rice frequents bike trails, Lt. Patrick stressed deputies were already increasing their patrols of Queen Anne's County's parks and trails - using both bicycles and a new motorcycle.
"Everyone is doing the best they can to protect the people of Queen Anne's County," said Lt. Patrick.
Residents are still worried, though. They said they can't ignore Rice and let bygones be bygones.
"I don't want my daughter to be his next bygone," one parent said.
Convicted Kidnapper/ Murder Suspect Living in Stevensville 
