Four Suspects Charged in Carroll County Bar Slaying

Following indictments by a Carroll County grand jury, four suspects Saturday were charged in connection with the death of a Frederick County man who was assaulted at a Keymar bar in August and later died from his injuries.  

Three of the suspects are identified as John D. Robey, 52, and his two sons, Jonathan L. Robey, 20, and Thomas J. Robey, 22, all of the 9800 block of Crossfield Road in Hagerstown. Each of the suspects is charged with second degree murder, manslaughter, first degree assault and second degree assault. 

John Robey and his two sons lived on Main Street in Woodsboro at the time of the assault. They have since moved to Hagerstown.  

Also charged Saturday was Michael J. “Hank” Grimes, 48, of the 11000 block of Woodsboro Creagerstown Road in Woodsboro. He is charged with manslaughter and second degree assault. 

The victim is identified as Craig E. Myers, 26, of the 10000 block of Rocky Ridge Road in Rocky Ridge, Md. 

Myers was pronounced dead on Sept. 2 at the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center, where he had been undergoing treatment since the assault.

This investigation began around 9:15 p.m. on Aug. 28, 2011, when Maryland state troopers from the Westminster Barrack were dispatched to a bar in the 6600 block of Middleburg Road in Keymar, for a person who was not responsive. 

A preliminary investigation determined Myers had been involved in an altercation at the bar. An autopsy determined he died from blunt force trauma.

Due to the extent of the injuries, Maryland State Police criminal investigators from the Westminster Barrack were joined in their investigation by investigators from the State Police Homicide Unit. Following Myers' death, the Homicide Unit took the lead on the investigation, with continued assistance from Westminster Barrack investigators. 

On Jan. 5, a Carroll County grand jury handed down indictments against the four suspects. 

Early Saturday, the arrest warrants were served by teams of Maryland State Police troopers. Troopers from the Homicide Unit, the State Apprehension Team and the Special Tactical Assault Team Element, as well as criminal investigators and uniformed troopers from the Westminster and Hagerstown barracks assisted in the arrests. 

All four suspects were arrested without incident and transported to the Westminster Barrack, police said. They were later taken to the Carroll County Detention Center where they were being held without bond.