Crofton Woman's Murder 'Might Have Been Prevented': State's Attorney

ANNAPOLIS, MD — A Crofton man accused of stabbing and beating his girlfriend to death should never have been free, says the county prosecutor, who has criticized the judge who released Ryan Gregory Hollebon from custody in December 2016. Hollebon was arrested then for domestic assault of his girlfriend, whom he is now accused of killing on Sunday.

Hollebon, 38, of the 1700 block of Carry Place in Crofton, is accused of violently attacking Jhalandia Elaine Butler, 28, of the same address, Sunday night. Butler was pronounced dead at the scene.

Court records show Hollebon remains in jail without bond on charges of first-degree murder, second-degree murder, first-degree assault, second-degree assault and deadly weapon with intent to injure in Butler's death.

But Anne Arundel County State's Attorney Wes Adams issued a statement denouncing the judge who let Hollebon go free on his own recognizance Dec. 5 after he was arrested for allegedly choking, shaking, and banging Butler's head.

When he was arrested on Dec. 3 for second-degree domestic assault, a District Court Commissioner decided to hold Hollebon without bond, but Judge Thomas V. Miller III released the suspect two days later.

"I am angered at another tragic loss at the hands of alleged domestic abuse. From the outset of this tragedy, one that might have been prevented, my prosecutors were keenly aware of the danger that Mr. Hollebon presented to Jhalandia Butler," Adams said in a statement, which didn't identify Miller by name.

During the Dec. 5 bail review hearing, prosecutors voiced deep concern for Butler, and implored Miller to hold Hollebon without bail because of the violent nature of the charges, Adams said. His office argued then that Butler would not be safe if Hollebon were released, and if he were released that he should be ordered to have no contact with the victim. Judge Miller denied the requests and has not commented on Adams' criticism.

Hollebon was ordered to complete an in-patient program at the Martinsburg Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

"As prosecutors, we know all too well that domestic violence usually leads to more domestic violence. Therefore, as a rule, we do everything we can to keep the accused from the victim," Adams said. "Unfortunately, at that time, the judge did not heed our requests."

Anne Arundel County Police received a call about domestic violence about 9:24 p.m. Sunday, March 5, at the house Butler and Hollebon shared in the 1700 block of Carry Place in Crofton. Officers arrived at the scene to find Butler lying inside the residence, while Hollebon had fled. He was taken into custody Monday in Baltimore City, police said.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner performed an autopsy on Butler and ruled the cause of death was multiple sharped-edge wounds coupled with blunt force trauma and the manner was homicide.

»Photo of Anne Arundel County State's Attorney Wes Adams courtesy of state's attorney's office