First Degree Murder and Related Charges Announced Against Suspect in Whitemarsh Homocide

Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele and Whitemarsh Township Police Chief Christopher Ward have announced the arrest of Lawrence Maurice Crawley, 33, of Philadelphia, for first-degree murder and related charges in the homicide of Angela Stith, 33, of Philadelphia. Stith was killed outside of Vector Security in Plymouth Meeting (Whitemarsh Township), where she was employed.

From the press release:

At 2:27 a.m., Aug. 3, 2018, Whitemarsh Township Police responded to Vector Security at 5125 Campus Drive for a reported stabbing. Police officers arrived on scene and located a deceased female, later identified as Ms. Stith, in the rear parking lot of the business, where she had been stabbed and run over by a vehicle. Montgomery County Detectives and Whitemarsh Police launched a joint investigation. Video surveillance showed the victim exiting the rear door of Vector Security at 2:13 a.m. and walking toward her vehicle. She is seen being chased by a male suspect and then being attacked. Co-workers were attempting to render aid when the defendant is seen driving his Chevrolet Avalanche SUV over the victim several times.

The defendant fled the scene. The Avalanche was spotted traveling on the westbound Pennsylvania Turnpike in Somerset County by Pennsylvania State Troopers. As troopers executed a traffic stop and approached the vehicle, Crawley set himself on fire inside his vehicle. The defendant was transported to a local hospital.

Forensic Pathologist Dr. Kahlil Wardak with the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office performed an autopsy on Ms. Stith’s body on Aug. 3, 2018, and determined that the cause of death was combined blunt and sharp force injuries. The manner of death was ruled homicide. Dr. Wardak noted the recovery of a knife blade within the back of Ms. Stith.

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