Delaware News

Murder at State Museum Sends Man to Prison

Criminal Division | Department of Justice | Department of Justice Press Releases | Date Posted: Friday, August 30, 2019


Picture of Prison Cell Bars

Other defendants sentenced on kidnapping, manslaughter, assault, and weapons charges

Malcolm Casson, a Dover man who stabbed another man to death on the grounds of a state museum, has pleaded guilty to a 2018 murder. In February 2018, State Police were called to the John Dickinson House off of Kitts Hummock Road in Dover after 36-year-old Thomas Bunting, Jr. of Milford was found suffering from multiple stab wounds. A few hours later, Harrington Police arrested Casson after he committed a traffic violation in Bunting’s car. Casson, 26, pleaded guilty to Murder Second Degree and Possession of a Deadly Weapon During the Commission of a Felony. After accepting the plea, a Superior Court judge immediately sentenced Casson to 40 years in prison, followed by 6 months of work release then 3 years of probation. Casson will also need to pay restitution to the victim’s family and remain on probation until all of his financial obligations are met. Deputy Attorneys General Stephen Welch and Stephen Smith prosecuted the case with assistance from social worker Esther Powell. Detective Dan Grassi of the Delaware State Police was the chief investigator.

A Millsboro man charged with kidnapping and robbing an elderly Rehoboth Beach couple has pleaded guilty. Steven Snell, 29, pleaded guilty in Superior Court to Kidnapping First Degree, 2 counts of Robbery First Degree, Home Invasion, Assault Second Degree, and Possession of a Deadly Weapon During the Commission of a Felony. In July 2018, Snell entered a home on the unit block of Cornwall Road and after asking to use the phone, threatened the couple with a box cutter. Snell forced the victims into his car and drove to an ATM where he withdrew money from the couple’s bank account. Snell, who faces a minimum of 17 years in prison, will be sentenced by a Superior Court judge in October. Deputy Attorney General Adam Gelof prosecuted the case.

The 2017 fatal shooting of a teenage girl has led to a prison sentence for her killer. In April 2017, Shyheim Warren, 25, of Wilmington shot 16-year-old Tyneisha Cephas while she was trying to break up a large fight in front of her home on the 900 block of North Kirkwood Street in Wilmington. Warren pleaded guilty to Manslaughter and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony in July. A Superior Court judge sentenced Warren to 7 years in prison followed by 1 year of probation. Deputy Attorneys General John Downs and Timothy Maguire secured the sentence.

A Dover man who pleaded guilty in April to shooting and injuring 2 people at a large house party in Dover last year received a prison sentence from a Superior Court judge. In September 2018, Dover Police responded to the unit block of Nicholas Drive where Marquis Harris, 23, shot into a crowd of people after a fight broke out at a party, hitting a man and a woman in the back. Harris pleaded guilty Assault First Degree and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony. A Superior Court judge sentenced Harris to 10 years in prison followed by 2 years of probation. Deputy Attorneys General Sean Motoyoshi and Nicole Hartman prosecuted the case with assistance from social worker Kerry McElwee and special investigator Pete Fraley. Detective Stephen Boone of the Dover Police Department was the chief investigating officer.

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Murder at State Museum Sends Man to Prison

Criminal Division | Department of Justice | Department of Justice Press Releases | Date Posted: Friday, August 30, 2019


Picture of Prison Cell Bars

Other defendants sentenced on kidnapping, manslaughter, assault, and weapons charges

Malcolm Casson, a Dover man who stabbed another man to death on the grounds of a state museum, has pleaded guilty to a 2018 murder. In February 2018, State Police were called to the John Dickinson House off of Kitts Hummock Road in Dover after 36-year-old Thomas Bunting, Jr. of Milford was found suffering from multiple stab wounds. A few hours later, Harrington Police arrested Casson after he committed a traffic violation in Bunting’s car. Casson, 26, pleaded guilty to Murder Second Degree and Possession of a Deadly Weapon During the Commission of a Felony. After accepting the plea, a Superior Court judge immediately sentenced Casson to 40 years in prison, followed by 6 months of work release then 3 years of probation. Casson will also need to pay restitution to the victim’s family and remain on probation until all of his financial obligations are met. Deputy Attorneys General Stephen Welch and Stephen Smith prosecuted the case with assistance from social worker Esther Powell. Detective Dan Grassi of the Delaware State Police was the chief investigator.

A Millsboro man charged with kidnapping and robbing an elderly Rehoboth Beach couple has pleaded guilty. Steven Snell, 29, pleaded guilty in Superior Court to Kidnapping First Degree, 2 counts of Robbery First Degree, Home Invasion, Assault Second Degree, and Possession of a Deadly Weapon During the Commission of a Felony. In July 2018, Snell entered a home on the unit block of Cornwall Road and after asking to use the phone, threatened the couple with a box cutter. Snell forced the victims into his car and drove to an ATM where he withdrew money from the couple’s bank account. Snell, who faces a minimum of 17 years in prison, will be sentenced by a Superior Court judge in October. Deputy Attorney General Adam Gelof prosecuted the case.

The 2017 fatal shooting of a teenage girl has led to a prison sentence for her killer. In April 2017, Shyheim Warren, 25, of Wilmington shot 16-year-old Tyneisha Cephas while she was trying to break up a large fight in front of her home on the 900 block of North Kirkwood Street in Wilmington. Warren pleaded guilty to Manslaughter and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony in July. A Superior Court judge sentenced Warren to 7 years in prison followed by 1 year of probation. Deputy Attorneys General John Downs and Timothy Maguire secured the sentence.

A Dover man who pleaded guilty in April to shooting and injuring 2 people at a large house party in Dover last year received a prison sentence from a Superior Court judge. In September 2018, Dover Police responded to the unit block of Nicholas Drive where Marquis Harris, 23, shot into a crowd of people after a fight broke out at a party, hitting a man and a woman in the back. Harris pleaded guilty Assault First Degree and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony. A Superior Court judge sentenced Harris to 10 years in prison followed by 2 years of probation. Deputy Attorneys General Sean Motoyoshi and Nicole Hartman prosecuted the case with assistance from social worker Kerry McElwee and special investigator Pete Fraley. Detective Stephen Boone of the Dover Police Department was the chief investigating officer.

image_printPrint

Related Topics:  , , ,


Graphic that represents delaware news on a mobile phone

Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.

Here you can subscribe to future news updates.