Salisbury man pleads guilty in 2006 cold case homicide

SALISBURY, Md. – A Salisbury man has plead guilty to the fatal stabbing of Denise Horsey that occurred in Apr. 2006.

On Oct. 20, 44-year-old Tyrone Hughey of Salisbury plead guilty to one count of second degree murder in the Circuit Court for Wicomico County. His sentencing has been postponed until Jan. 2027. Hughey is currently serving a lengthy Department of Corrections sentence on an unrelated matter.

On Apr. 8, 2006, at 6:15 a.m., Salisbury Police Department (SPD) officers responded to an alleyway behind 306 Naylor Street following reports of a woman screaming for help. Upon arrival, officers located Horsey suffering from multiple stab wounds.Horsey was rushed to Peninsula Regional Medical Center, where she ultimately succumbed to her injuries. Investigative efforts by SPD in 2006 did not develop sufficient evidence to prosecute at the time, and the case eventually went cold.

In 2025, SPD initiated a comprehensive review of historical cold cases deemed to have a high potential for resolution, including the Horsey case. The Office of the Wicomico County State’s Attorney (SA) said Detective Fairman assumed control of the investigation, launching a meticulous re-examination of the original case file. New witnesses informed detectives that Hughey had admitted to committing the murder, and detailed his subsequent efforts to destroy physical evidence connected to the crime scene.

As WMDT previously reported, Hughey was indicted on Sept. 22, 2025.

“This outcome is a testament to the dedication of the Salisbury Police Department investigators who refused to let Denise Horsey be forgotten,” said SA Jamie L. Dykes. “While Hughey’s conviction cannot erase twenty years, or a lifetime, of grief for Denise’s family, this conviction provides some answers they have long deserved. In this Office, a cold case is not an abandoned case.”