Edgewood Attacker Who Used Crowbar To Kill Elderly Man Found Guilty: Prosecutor

HARFORD COUNTY, MD — A 34-year-old Edgewood woman has been found guilty following a six-day jury trial for the brutal death of 71-year-old Gerald Champ in his Edgewood home.

On Feb. 18, 2022, around 7:56 a.m., Harford County sheriff's deputies responded to a 911 call at 2310 Perry Ave. in Edgewood after Champ's daughter found her father's body in his home. Family members had not been able to reach Champ for days and his 2003 Ford Explorer was missing from the property, according to police.

An autopsy revealed the homicide happened as a result of blunt force trauma with prong-like defects embedded in Champ's skull, including multiple skull fractures and defensive wounds to his hands and arms.

Detectives found a crowbar in Champ's home and it was identified as the murder weapon. Suspects were identified, including Ashley Pearl Zentz, who knew the victim and his family for more than 20 years. Family members of the victim found Champ's missing Ford Explorer abandoned in Baltimore County near a home invasion in which Zentz and a co-defendant were involved that had happened within 24 hours of when the victim was believed to have been murdered, according to court documents.

A silver Infiniti QX80 stolen during the Baltimore County home invasion was later recovered less than one mile from Zentz’s parents’ home. Forensic evidence, including DNA, cell phone downloads and surveillance video, linked Zentz to the Harford County murder and the Baltimore County home invasion, prosecutors argued.

Zentz was found guilty of first-degree murder and motor vehicle theft by a jury. She will be sentenced Dec. 18.

“I send my sincere condolences to the family of Mr. Champ for their loss. While I know nothing can ever bring him back to them, it is my sincere hope that, despite a long and challenging court process, these convictions will bring them some closure. Our office will continue to fight for justice for all victims of crime in Harford County, and today we are happy that we have brought justice to Mr. Champ’s family for this senseless act of violence that took the life of their loved
one," said State’s Attorney Alison M. Healey after the verdict.