The morning after he had conducted a well-attended auction, a 53-year-old Perry Hall businessman was killed by a blow to the head, Baltimore County police said.
The body of Paul Robert Zinkhan was discovered shortly after 9 a.m. yesterday by one of his employees at the A to Z Garden Center at 9717 Belair Road. The victim owned the business and lived on the premises in a trailer.
Capt. Rustin E. Price, commander of the county homicide unit, said Mr. Zinkhan's body was found on the ground near a side door of the building from which he sold plants and fresh produce in the summer and Christmas trees during the holiday season.
"We are pursuing a number of leads," Captain Price said. He refused to say whether robbery was a possible motive, although Mr. Zinkhan had taken in an undetermined amount of cash from the previous night's auction.
The victim's body was sent to the state medical examiner's office for an autopsy.
According to J. Thomas Qualls, owner of the Forge Shell Service Station next door, Thursday night's auction was well-attended.
"I've picked up a few things at his auctions in the past," Mr. Qualls said. "One man's treasure is another man's junk, but he sold some nice things. I could see that his Thursday night auction was very crowded, up to maybe 100 people."
Mr. Qualls said he had known Mr. Zinkhan for 20 years. He said the victim was a native of the Essex area and ran another produce stand in Dundalk.
"He was a very quiet guy who was a great neighbor, he'd do anything for you," Mr. Qualls said.
According to police, the victim's father is in a nursing home and was notified there of his son's death.