HdG Man Pleads Guilty In Murder Of 15-Year-Old

HAVRE DE GRACE, MD — A 19-year-old Havre de Grace man was convicted in the murder of a teen who was reported missing in August 2017. Authorities said her body was found in a trash can, and she died of asphyxiation.

Naeshawn Perry, 19, of the 1200 block of Battery Drive, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder Tuesday in Harford County Circuit Court.

Perry killed Maleigha Solonka, who was reported missing Aug. 9, 2017, according to prosecutors, who said her body was found a week later in a wooded area behind a church on Webb Lane.

Detectives from the Havre de Grace Police Department performed an "extensive investigation" that involved interviewing Perry and multiple search and seizure warrants, prosecutors said.

"Mr. Perry was charged with murdering Maleigha Solonka after multiple items that were recovered during the investigation underwent DNA analysis," Harford County State's Attorney Albert J. Peisinger Jr. said in a statement Tuesday night announcing the conviction.

"The Office of the State’s Attorney for Harford County sends its deepest condolences to the victim’s family for the tragic loss they have suffered," Peisinger said. "The Office of the State’s Attorney for Harford County would like to thank the Havre de Grace Police Department, Department of Natural Resources, Maryland State Police Crime Laboratory and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for their outstanding work and dedication in conducting the investigation that resulted in the conviction of Mr. Perry."

Judge Paul W. Ishak is set to sentence Perry at 1:30 p.m. on June 4.

See Also:

• Missing Edgewood Teen Found Deceased In Havre de Grace
• Death Ruled Homicide After Body Found In HdG Woods
• Murder Charges Filed In Death Of Edgewood Teen Maleigha Solonka