Maryland Attorney General’s Office Declines to Reopen 2010 Restraint Death Case of Mary Croker

The Maryland Office of the Attorney General (OAG) has concluded its review of the investigative file concerning the 2010 death of Mary Croker, determining that there is insufficient evidence to reopen a criminal investigation into the matter. Ms. Croker, a 41-year-old white woman, died on July 16, 2010, following an incident where she was restrained by officers from the Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD). This review is part of a broader initiative examining 41 restraint-related deaths that occurred between 2003 and 2019, which independent medical examiners later suggested should have been classified as homicides, a reclassification that has not been adopted by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME).

The OAG’s comprehensive review of Ms. Croker’s case involved gathering investigative materials from State’s Attorney’s Offices, police departments, and family representatives. The process began following an executive order mandating the review of these specific cases. According to guidelines from the National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME), classifying a death as a homicide signifies that it resulted from a volitional act by another person, a distinction separate from establishing criminal intent or culpability, which are legal determinations. The OAG’s examination focused on whether the collected evidence supports criminal culpability beyond a reasonable doubt.

The investigative file, originally from the State’s Attorney’s Office for Baltimore County, details the events of July 16, 2010. Baltimore County Police were dispatched to a call regarding a female stealing from a vehicle. Upon arrival, an officer approached Ms. Croker, who reportedly walked away when the officer attempted to speak with her. When Ms. Croker did not comply with a request to sit down, the officer took hold of her arm. Witnesses, both civilian and officer, reported that Ms. Croker then struck the officer. Both individuals fell to the ground, and a struggle ensued. Accounts from witnesses indicate that Ms. Croker continued to strike the officer as he attempted to detain her, and that she attempted to stab the officer with a pen and reach for his service weapon. Two civilians intervened, assisting the officer by holding Ms. Croker’s legs until backup arrived. Ms. Croker was subsequently handcuffed and placed on her stomach on the ground, at which point she ceased breathing. Officers initiated CPR until emergency medical services arrived. She was transported to a local hospital, where she was pronounced deceased.

An autopsy was performed by the OCME on July 17, 2010, with the manner of death ruled “Undetermined.” In September of that same year, the Baltimore County State’s Attorney’s Office decided not to pursue criminal charges. Approximately fifteen years later, an independent review as part of a state audit suggested that the manner of Ms. Croker’s death should have been classified as “Homicide.” However, the OCME has not altered its original certification of the manner or cause of death. The OAG’s review considered this information within the context of the original investigative materials.

After a thorough examination of the available evidence, the Office of the Attorney General concluded that the information gathered does not provide sufficient grounds to prove criminal culpability beyond a reasonable doubt. Consequently, the OAG’s findings align with the 2010 decision by the Baltimore County State’s Attorney’s Office. The OAG will offer Ms. Croker’s family the opportunity to review the materials contained within the investigative file.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the Maryland Office of the Attorney General

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