The former assistant of a Maryland dentist has pleaded guilty to arranging her employer's violent murder in 2006 in an attempt to cover up a $17,000 theft scheme.
Shontay Hickman, 36, of Baltimore pleaded guilty on February 6 to first-degree murder for the slaying of Albert Woonho Ro, DDS, at his Glen Burnie dental practice, according to a story on HometownAnnapolis.com.
Hickman was sentenced to a life term; her co-defendant and cousin, Dante Jeter, 24, will stand trial in May.
Hickman and Jeter are charged with the September 2006 killing of Dr. Ro, who was Hickman's employer. Dr. Ro was found stabbed 39 times, stomped, and beaten beyond recognition inside his dental practice.
The murder was a cold case until mid-2010, when a fingerprint found on a box of toothbrushes inside Dr. Ro's office led police to Jeter, who was jailed in Baltimore awaiting trial on an unrelated 2008 murder.
Shortly before he was killed, Dr. Ro was told of billing discrepancies. After Dr. Ro's death, detectives determined that Hickman stole 28 checks totaling $17,660 and deposited them into her bank account.
Dr. Ro's widow lost her home and had to file for bankruptcy following his murder, according to the story.
