Stanley Ricketts: A deeper look into the Federalsburg murder suspect

FEDERALSBURG, Md. – “Mr Ricketts has a violent past with our office,” said Federalsburg Police Chief Michael McDermott.

Since 1992 Stanley Ricketts has had his fair share of run ins with law enforcement across the eastern shore.

“You can look at his record and see that there’s a history of this type of activity,” McDermott said.

With nearly 35 cases on record, Ricketts has faced dozens of charges ranging from drug abuse, assault, and more frequently domestic violence.

Chief McDermott says, “One was back in 2010 in the fall where he assaulted a female that he was in a domestic relationship with. He’s been basically a constant threat if you will for some type of violent action in our area.”

And just last year, officials with the Federalsburg Police Department say they were called to Tameka Barham’s home after Ricketts had placed both of his hands around her neck and began to tightly squeeze her throat to strangle her.

“He was charged with the assault, and other violations at the time and had a court date in November,” said McDermott.

But unfortunately Barham, never followed through with her complaint.

“The promises are made and pleadings are done and next thing you know people take them at their word and they decide that they don’t want to prosecute a case,” said McDermott.

Chief McDermott says unfortunately he’s all too familiar with these types of situations where the victim often doesn’t make it out alive. But he hopes this recent incident will be a wake up call for those to get out while they still can.

“When somebody abuses another human being at that level with that kind of a lack of care and concern for anyone else except for their own what they want done in life, I don’t believe there’s a dark enough jail cell to put them in.”

Officials say Ricketts is currently being held at the Currently Caroline County Detention Center where he is being held without bond. The investigation is still ongoing.