CHANGE SOLITICATION FOR MURDER TO FELONY STATUS IN MARYLAND

When our daughter, Stacey Lynne Seaton, 17, was murdered in Bowie, MD in 2005, it was over four years before the first arrest was made. After the second arrest, in 2011, we found out that McDonald Abraham III paid $400 in cash, and $200 in Marijuana, to have our Stacey murdered - over something she was falsely accused of doing. We were stunned to find out she was targeted in a Solicitation for Murder case, a Murder for Hire. We asked why Abraham wasn't charged with Solicitation for Murder, as he testified to paying $400 in cash, and $200 in Marijuana, to have Stacey murdered. We were told he wasn't eligible for it. We didn't find out until several years ago, that Solicitation for Murder is actually a MISDEMEANOR, in Maryland, with a statute of limitations of 3 years. At the time of Stacey's murder the statute of limitation for this was only 1 year. Abraham wasn't arrested until over 4 years after Stacey's murder, so he could not be charged with it.

It is important to change Solicitation for Murder to FELONY status, because as recently as Abraham's parole hearing, he argued that he didn't kill her, he only paid for her death. The same as he testified in trial. He acknowledged that he wrongfully targeted Stacey, as he had been told she set him up, but still defended himself, by saying he didn't have the accurate information of who set him until later - as if it was still okay. He showed no remorse, no regrets. He stated he would never kill anyone, but he did testify to pressuring the shooter to go through with the murder. When the shooter tried to back out, according to Abraham's own words, Abraham reminded the killer that he had already been paid the cash, and given the gun, but he wouldn't get the drugs he wanted, until AFTER Stacey was killed. Abraham is a big guy, and the shooter is shorter, and thin, and in Abraham's words, "needed drugs." Abraham said he deliberately selected the shooter. Abraham will be released in March, 2020, just a little over a year from now. He plans on living in Bowie, MD again. While he still refuses to acknowledge responsibility for Stacey's death, there are people worried that he will retaliate against them for their providing evidence and testimony. Some witnesses have said they would not have come forward, had they known Abraham would be released so soon. One young witness will not come back to Maryland. We need to change Solicitation to Commit Murder to the FELONY status it should be. People who pay others to do their dirty work are cowards, and are dangerous. There have been other Solicitation for Murder cases in Maryland, since 2005 and not all have been resolved yet. PLEASE HELP US SEND THE MESSAGE THAT PAYING FOR A MURDER IS A SERIOUS CRIME, and deserves a significant sentence to go along with it. Thank you! We appreciate everyone's signing last year's petition, we feel hopeful that this year the law will be changed. Stacey is missed, and loved everyday.