Myspace murder trial turns graphic

BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Prosecutor Ann Brobst turned to the family of Josie Brown and nodded her head — signifying that what was coming next wouldn’t be pretty.

After Brown’s family left the Baltimore County courtroom Wednesday, Assistant Medical Examiner Melissa Brassell showed the jury the graphic photographs of what UMBC student John Gaumer did on Dec. 29, 2005, to the woman he had met on MySpace.com.

Brown, 27, the mother of a young girl, was found completely naked, except for her socks, in the woods just off Interstate 95 in Arbutus.

Brassell told jurors she detected more than 70 bruises on Brown, whom Gaumer, 23, hit with a stick about 50 times the night of her death. His own attorney has admitted this to the jury, and Gaumer admitted it to police, according to earlier testimony in the trial.

Brassell told the jury how Brown’s jawbone had been ripped out and all the fingertips of her left hand cut off. She was also missing her nose, her teeth and other bones in her face — devastation that would usually require heavy machinery to inflict.

“Typically, a saw is used to remove a jawbone,” the doctor testified.

But Brassell’s testimony might also help Gaumer — who needs to avoid a rape conviction to escape the death penalty.

When asked if Brown’s body showed any evidence of vaginal rape, Brassell replied that it did not.

“I didn’t see any evidence of trauma,” she said.

Brown and Gaumer had met on MySpace.com earlier the day of Brown’s death . After drinking at several bars in Baltimore, Brown had agreed to go back to Gaumer’s dorm room with him, but changed her mind while in the car, the former college football player told police.

During a fight, Gaumer — who called himself “bigthickdude” on Myspace.com — threw Brown over a guard rail and beat her to death.

Gaumer’s attorneys acknowledge he beat and killed Brown, but said he didn’t rape her and should not be convicted of first-degree murder because he did not plan the killing and was in a “blind rage” at the time. If he is not convicted of first-degree murder and either felony rape or armed robbery, he cannot face the death penalty, which prosecutors are seeking.

Both prosecutors and defense attorneys rested their cases Wednesday. Closing arguments are expected today.

lbroadwater@baltimoreexaminer.com

Advertisement