Police identify woman found dead in Leakin Park
City police today are identifying the woman found shot to death in Leakin Park on Sunday night.
Lois Smyth, 40, who was also known as Lois Vance, was found by a jogger in the 3900 block of Windsor Mill Road, between the Gwynns Falls Trail and a stream, police say. Smyth was from the 400 block of W. Maple Road in Linthicum, and had no criminal record.
Police are interviewing people of interest and have a motive, though it was not disclosed for investigative reasons. According to The Sun's homicide map, Smyth is the fifth female killed in Baltimore this year, and just the second white victim out of 83 victims.
On Facebook, friends of Smyth were organizing a candlelight vigil at Old Mill Senior High School for Thursday night.
Police also provided names for two other recent victims of fatal gun violence: Fareed Abdullah, 28, of the 8600 block of Pine Road in Jessup, was identified as the man shot while sitting in a vehicle on Saturday morning in Northwest Baltimore, while Maurice Gray, 35, of the 800 block of Bradhurst Dr., was identified as the man shot and killed Tuesday night in the 700 block of E. Eager St.
Categories: Anne Arundel County, Southwest Baltimore
Comments
Are we certain she was actually killed in Leakin Park? I have lived next to the park for 20+ years, and more often than not, people are murdered elsewhere and their bodies dumped in Leakin Park. In fact, area residents refer to LP as the largest unofficial graveyard in Maryland.
Posted by: Woodie | June 1, 2011 11:47 AM
I can't believe this happened to a wonderful women like Lois! she was absolutely amazing, & I will fight for justice for her. I love you mama Lois <3*
Posted by: breanna | June 1, 2011 12:52 PM
Up until 1974 most of the bodies found in the park were killed in the park. In 1984 Joyce DeShields was killed in the park. Petro Taylor was killed in the park in 2008, Lemuel Wallace was killed in the park in 2009, Yolanda Brown was killed in the park in 2008, maybe Kwame Osafo was killed in the park in 2007.
Posted by: Cham | June 1, 2011 1:32 PM
Lois was a wondeful, most sweetest person you could ever meet.She never saw bad in anyone, she was always out to help and give a positive outlook under any circumstances.How anyone could do this to such a goodhearted person I will never understand.Lois will be loved and missed by all...
Posted by: Debby | June 1, 2011 1:47 PM
@ Woodie does it really matter if she was killed there the important thing is that a very dear friend , sister , aunt cousin mother and grandmother was senselessly taken from us
Posted by: Deb | June 1, 2011 1:56 PM
I'm sorry to read that a HS classmate of mine met such a tragic fate. My prayers are with the family and friends of Lois.
Posted by: b | June 1, 2011 2:25 PM
In the end it doesn't matter where, all that matters is she was ripped from her family and the world is just a little bit sadder because of it..
Posted by: Melody | June 1, 2011 4:04 PM
Lois was the most beautiful person..inside and out...Justice Will be done..We all love and miss you Lolo!!
Posted by: Tina | June 1, 2011 7:30 PM
Prayers from Florida to Lois's family and friends (my mom being one of them). She was a wonderful person and will be greatly missed.
Posted by: Danielle | June 1, 2011 9:37 PM
I went to high school with Lois. I think of all the kids I grew up with, she was one of the nicest. I am truly saddened to have heard this news.
Posted by: Jimmy | June 2, 2011 10:37 AM
Melody: while in terms of comforting those mourning the victim, the location of the murder is irrelevant; it IS important in terms of justice being served. Dumping a body in the city is probably the smartest thing a criminal can do because it likely spares him/her of the death penalty if convicted (and in the city that's no sure bet).
Posted by: Anon Please | June 2, 2011 7:37 PM