Havre de Grace Man Was Murder Accessory: Jury

BEL AIR, MD — A jury convicted a second person this week in the death of a Havre de Grace resident. Robert Lee Zeman III, was found guilty of accessory after the fact to second-degree murder, among other charges, in Harford County Circuit Court.

The murder case centered around the death of Jeffrey Mark Coudon in November 2018.

Police said Coudon, 61, was found shot in the 200 block of North Washington Street around 9:30 a.m. on Nov. 11, 2018. He died three days later at the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center, and the medical examiner ruled his death a homicide.

Zeman, 33, of the 400 block of South Washington Street in Havre de Grace and Joseph Daniel Parrish, 28, of the 200 block of Schmechel Street in Aberdeen were charged in connection with his death. They are half brothers, according to The Aegis.

Parrish was convicted of first-degree murder as well as retaliation against a witness and using a firearm in a felony crime. The motive for the shooting was reportedly to keep Coudon from testifying against Parrish in a robbery case.

Parrish robbed Coudon in March 2018 — eight months before the homicide — and when the 61-year-old, who was in a wheelchair, said he would testify against him in court, Parrish shot him, The Aegis reported, citing court records.

In October, a jury found Coudon guilty of first-degree murder, and a week later he requested a new trial in the case.

A jury found Zeman guilty Friday, Feb. 14, of accessory to second-degree murder, unlawful sale of a regulated firearm, having a handgun on his person and possession of a handgun by someone prohibited.

"We hope this second related case helps to bring additional closure to the family of Mr. Coudon the victim of the homicide," the Havre de Grace Police Department said in a statement Monday.

Coudon's mother told The Aegis she was "concerned" since Parrish is asking for a new trial.

Related:

• HdG Murder Trial Ends In Guilty Verdict
• Two Charged In 2018 Havre de Grace Murder: Police
• Man Dies 3 Days After Havre de Grace Shooting: Police
• Shooting In HdG Sends 1 To Shock Trauma

Police reportedly identified Zeman as a suspect based on an illegal gun transaction involving the murder weapon.

Someone witnessed him telling a buyer the gun had been used to kill someone, and Zeman later confirmed to authorities the gun used in the murder had been in Parrish's backpack, which he retrieved for him while Parrish was in jail, a request made by jailhouse phone, The Aegis reported.

Parrish has been incarcerated since Dec. 14, 2018, after being charged with armed robbery, robbery, second-degree assault and theft less than $100 in a separate case on Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018, court records show.

Court records show that Zeman was arrested April 16, and the charges against Parrish were filed two days later.

Sentencing has not been set for Zeman.