A Westminster man charged in the killing of a video store employee was ordered held without bail at a hearing yesterday in Carroll County District Court.
Michael Ryan Anderson, 26, who appeared before Judge JoAnn Ellinghaus-Jones via television, has been charged with first- and second-degree murder, robbery and theft. Anderson is accused of killing Gary L. Hatfield, 54, of Manchester, who was found dead Jan. 26 in H and D Movie Sales in Finksburg, where he worked, police said.
Anderson was arrested early Sunday after being interviewed at the Maryland State Police Westminster barracks Saturday night, police said.
Hatfield was found face down in the store after his wife and son came to check on him when he did not return home at the usual time, according to court records. Hatfield had head and upper chest injuries, the documents stated, and a fire extinguisher next to Hatfield's body "appeared consistent with an object used to cause blunt force traumatic injuries."
Store representatives told police that about $1,100 was missing from a cash register, records showed.
During the interview with police, Anderson "admitted to being inside the [video] store after hours at which point he located victim Hatfield prior to police arrival," records stated.
"He was able to provide specific details about the crime scene and the victim," records said, and gave police different accounts of how he obtained "cuts and open wounds" observed on his hands.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Feb. 29.
arin.gencer@baltsun.com