Matthew Hightower, a 43-year-old resident of Baltimore, Maryland, has entered a guilty plea in connection with the murder of Latrina Ashburne on May 27, 2016. The announcement was made by Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, alongside several law enforcement officials.
The plea agreement reveals that Hightower conspired to kill a federal witness who had provided information about his involvement in a health care fraud scheme and the murder of David Wutoh. This conspiracy led to the death of Ashburne, who was mistaken for the intended target due to her similarity in age and appearance to the federal witness.
Hightower communicated with others from jail through calls and letters to orchestrate the murder plot. Davon Carter and Clifton Mosley were previously convicted for their roles as shooter and accomplice in this crime.
Hightower could face a life sentence in federal prison. However, under the plea agreement, if accepted by the court, it is recommended that he serve 60 years consecutively to his current sentence for Wutoh's murder.
U.S. Attorney Hayes praised the collaborative efforts of various law enforcement agencies involved in this investigation and thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kim Y. Hagan and Paul E. Budlow for prosecuting the case.
For further details on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office's initiatives and community resources, visit justice.gov/usao-md or justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
