The Anne Arundel County grand jury indicted two Baltimore men yesterday in the September 1993 slaying of nightclub owner who was gunned down in the driveway of her home in the 500 block of Broadwater Road in Arnold.
Edward W. McLeod, 44, and Gilbert Eric Griffin, 42, were both indicted on charges of first-degree murder, attempted robbery, assault with intent to commit robbery, conspiracy and handgun violations.
It was the second time that Mr. McLeod had been charged in connection with the death of JoAnne S. Valentine, 47.
He was arrested Oct. 1, 1993, after police searched his car and reported finding a .38-caliber Taurus handgun they say was used to kill Mrs. Valentine.
That case was dropped this year when State's Attorney Frank Weathersbee decided he didn't have enough evidence.
"Since that time, a meticulous investigation by the Anne Arundel County Police Department and this office has led to additional evidence," Mr. Weathersbee said.
"I would like to extend my appreciation to the Valentine family for their understanding and patience during this most trying time."
Griffin also has been charged previously in the slaying. He is serving a 10-year sentence at the Maryland House of Correction in Jessup for stealing the gun that killed Mrs. Valentine.
Pam Lyons, sister of the victim, said family members were "thrilled" when they heard about yesterday's indictments.
"It gives us some finality," she said.
"I'm sure the worst is yet to come, with the trial dates and all."
In September, Clarence D. Pittman, 49, a suspect in a kidnapping and carjacking, was released from the county jail to help police gather evidence in the Valentine case.
According to law enforcement sources, he told police that he was standing outside a Baltimore crack house when a car with four men pulled up a short time after the slaying.
He said he heard the men arguing about a killing and botched robbery and that he saw one of the men take a handgun out of his waistband and put it in the car's trunk, the sources said.
After his release in September, detectives checked Mr. Pittman into a Baltimore hotel, put a recording device on him and sent him back to the crack house.
Police had hoped that Mr. Pittman would find witnesses who had overheard the conversation.
Mr. Pittman disappeared shortly after his release. He was picked up by police Nov. 2.
Mr. Weathersbee would not say whether Mr. Pittman played any role in the investigation.
Mrs. Valentine and her husband, Vincent, owned A. L. Gators and Rumblefish, two Pasadena nightclubs.
She was shot to death in her driveway about 4 a.m. Sept. 26, 1993, after she returned home from closing the establishments.
Her husband told police he saw his wife arguing with several men and that he saw the shooting from a bedroom balcony near the garage. Their couple's teen-age sons were asleep upstairs at the time of the shooting.
"It's a sad time. It's Christmastime," said Ms. Lyons. "We miss my sister."