xml:space="preserve">
Advertisement

Denver man sentenced in Dundalk murder-for-hire case

Stephen Cooke, Alexander Charles Bennett, Grant A. Lewis (left to right) (Handout photos courtesy Baltimore County Police & Fire Departments)

The "go between," who prosecutors said helped connect a Dundalk man to a hired hitman to kill his girlfriend 15 years ago, was sentenced on Monday to life in prison.

Baltimore County Circuit Court Judge Kathleen Gallogly Cox sentenced Grant Lewis, 36, of Denver in the death of Heidi Bernadzikowski. Bernadzikowski, 24, was found strangled with her throat slit in her Codd Avenue home on April 20, 2000.

Advertisement

County police said her boyfriend, Stephen Michael Cooke Jr., 43, had contacted Lewis, who got a third man, Alexander Bennett, also from Denver, to do the killing. County police said previously that Cooke had taken out a $700,000 insurance policy on Bernadzikowski months before Bernadzikowski's death.

A jury convicted Lewis of first-degree murder and conspiracy on October 30.

Advertisement

Bennett previously pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and is awaiting sentencing.

Cooke's trial is scheduled for June 8.

twitter.com/janders5

Advertisement
YOU'VE REACHED YOUR FREE ARTICLE LIMIT

Don't miss our 4th of July sale!
Save big on local news.

SALE ENDS SOON

Unlimited Digital Access

$1 FOR 12 WEEKS

No commitment, cancel anytime

See what's included

Access includes: