Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Second Baltimore preacher charged with homicide

Baltimore, Maryland, USA - Following last Friday's news that 32-year-old Kevin Pushia, a Baltimore preacher, had been charged with killing 37-year-old Lemuel Wallce, who was blind and developmentally disabled, so he could collect his life insurance, the Baltimore Sun reported yesterday that another Baltimore preacher, 31-year-old James Omar Clea has been arrested and charged in connection with his killing; he is suspected of been involved in hiring a hit man to kill Mr Wallace:

Baltimore police, in conjunction with South Carolina law enforcement officials, arrested James Omar Clea III, 31, of the 2800 block of Bookert Drive in Cherry Hill about 3 p.m. at a hotel in Orangeburg, S.C. Clea, who was charged with first-degree murder, is suspected of being involved in hiring a hit man to kill Lemuel Wallace, who was last seen alive Feb. 4, according to police.

Baltimore police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said police are investigating Clea's involvement in the killing, as it is unclear who fired the bullet that killed Wallace.


As reported by United Press International last Friday, Mr Wallace was found with gunshot wounds to his head and back on Feb. 4 in a public Baltimore bathroom. Kevin Pushia, who was an ARC of Baltimore volunteer responsible for his care, has been charged with taking out life insurance policies on Wallace adding up to nearly one million dollars and then paying to have him murdered.

According to WBAL TV a bail review for Pushia was postponed yesterday (Monday) because he is currently undergoing medical treatment in jail for unknown reasons. The man hired to kill Mr Wallace has not been identified.