On May 26, a Landover man was convicted for his role in a brutal double murder which took place exactly one year ago. Lawrence Thomas Covington Jr., 35, was convicted of first-degree murder and six other related offenses.
This was a retrial of the case. In December, after a two-day deliberation, the deadlocked jury led to a mistrial. Count Prince George’s States Attorney Glenn Ivey as someone who’s happy with this different outcome.
“This guilty verdict was hard fought,” Ivey said in a statement. “It is important to take killers off our streets. Justice is served and we look forward to life behind bars for this cold-blooded killer.”
Genea Simms Fountain, 22, said early that morning, Covington showed up at her Upper Marlboro home. She did not recognize him so she awakened LePrince Hall, 41, her stepfather. Covington, a former employee of Hall’s tow trucking company, showed up to discuss money he believed Hall owed him.
Fountain, then left with her husband Maurice Fountain, 25, to go to Southern Maryland Hospital for a sonogram as she was pregnant. When they returned home, Covington was waiting for them with a handgun and Hall lay dead in basement – nearly decapitated.
Covington then forced Fountain and her husband into the kitchen and onto the floor. He then tied their wrists as he demanded valuables and took the couple’s wedding rings.
Fountain then watched as Covington slit her husband’s throat. She told investigators that Covington told her to die before slitting hers.
After Covington fled the scene in Hall’s truck, Fountain mustered up enough strength to call 911. By the time the police arrived, her husband had already succumbed to his injuries.
Later at the hospital, Fountain described Covington to a police sketch artist.
Authorities then took the picture to Hall’s place of business where employees told police it was Covington.
Covington’s sentencing is set for July 23. He faces probable life without parole.
