Bodies found in car believed to be missing teenage girls
Two Maryland girls who have been missing for two weeks are believed to be dead, according to Montgomery County police.
The bodies of two young females were found in a remote area of Loudoun County, Va., yesterday in a car matching the description of the one in which the two teens were last seen, authorities said. The bodies had not been positively identified last night, they said.
A group of people driving off-road near the West Virginia border spotted a Subaru Outback with Maryland license plates about 2:15 p.m.
Kraig Troxell, a spokesman for the Loudoun County Sherriff's office, said that "there were no signs of trauma that I'm aware of" to the bodies. But he noted that the medical examiner had not determined the cause of death.
Rachel Smith, 16, of North Potomac and Rachel Crites, 18, of Gaithersburg were last seen together in a dark blue Subaru Outback on Jan. 19. The two girls were said to be close friends and had told their parents they were going to see a movie together in Washington, Montgomery police had said.
Annie Linskey
Baltimore: City Council
Half-dozen seek 6th District seat
A half-dozen people are being considered to fill the vacancy in the Baltimore City Council's 6th District in Northwest Baltimore, including the wife of one of the state's most powerful union leaders and several former candidates for the office.
Sharon Green Middleton, who is married to Glenard S. Middleton Sr., a statewide leader in the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees - which represents many city workers - is considered a top candidate for the job, which will be filled this month.
Other candidates include Vincent "Rick" Fullard and Charese Williams, both of whom ran unsuccessful campaigns for the position in 2003, and Israel Cason, founder of the substance abuse recovery program I Can't We Can. Deborah B. Ramsey and Brandon M. Scott are also being considered, the City Council president's office confirmed yesterday.
The position was left vacant when City Councilwoman Stephanie C. Rawlings Blake became council president last month. Residents interested in filling the vacancy may submit applications by Feb. 13, and a committee assigned to review them will hold a public meeting the next day.
John Fritze