Four young siblings were terrified in their Maryland home for hours after a gunman shot their parents to death in their bed.
Authorities have called it a “crime of rage and anger” at the Crimean home of Malita Baker, 33, and Sean Lange, 34, after they were shot 42 times at close range in their New Market bedroom.
Baker was the mother of all four children and Lange was the father of one. Baker’s social media shows that she gave birth in February.
Officials have not yet identified any suspects or motives in the investigation, nor have police commented on whether there are signs of forced entry.
Crimea Malita Baker, 33, and Sean Lange, 34, were shot to death Tuesday in their New Market, Maryland, home and discovered by Baker’s children
Police have not yet identified a motive or suspects and described the gruesome murder as a “crime of anger and rage.”
Police were called to the home at 7 a.m. Tuesday morning, but reported the shooting occurred around 1:30 a.m. that night.
When asked at a press conference to explain the hours-long delay, Sheriff Chuck Jenkins said the children hid in the house for hours until they felt it was safe to come out.
Jenkins would not confirm whether any of the children called police, saying the children were unharmed but traumatized by the tragedy.
“I can’t imagine what’s going through their minds,” Jenkins said.
“One of the children found his mother and the gentleman dead in the bed at that time. All I can say is that their lives are ruined. It’s upside down at the moment.”
While no motive or suspect has been identified, Jenkins said there are initial indications that the couple was targeted, noting that investigators found 42 shell casings around their bed.
“This was a horrific, targeted double homicide, a crime committed in anger and rage,” the sheriff added.
Baker was the mother of all four children, and Lange was the father of one. Baker’s social media shows she recently gave birth in February
Police said early indications the couple were targeted included detectives finding 42 shell casings around the victim’s bed.
Authorities said the investigation is still in its early stages but they do not believe it was a murder or suicide.
Jenkins described it as “the kind of crime that shocks the conscience” but stressed that “there is absolutely no reason to believe that there is any risk or danger to the local population in general.”
“I can assure the public that all available investigative and agency resources will be deployed in this case until the person(s) responsible are identified, arrested and brought to justice,” he said.
Baker was described by a friend in a heartbreaking tribute on Facebook as a devoted and hardworking mother “who raised resilient, thoughtful and tender children.”
“When I watch our videos, I notice that they are all filled with laughter,” her friend wrote.
In a previous GoFundMe Baker set up in 2018, the mother of four described herself as a “domestic violence survivor” and asked for money to hire a lawyer for a divorce.
“This past year has been the most difficult, heartbreaking, and challenging year of my life,” she wrote.
Baker was described as a devoted and hardworking mother, who had previously described herself as a “domestic violence survivor” whose allegedly abusive ex-husband took her children from her years ago
“From surviving the pain and fear caused by physical abuse and emotional abuse. I can’t even fully and completely describe the range of emotions.”
Baker wrote that her children’s alleged “abusive father” and his mother were hiding her children from her, and that at the time she was busy trying to find them and bring them home.
“This is heartbreaking as I do not have the financial resources to properly fight this. He is mentally unstable and there have been reports that he has threatened his family with a loaded gun,” she wrote.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Reese at 301-600-3640.