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William Pruitt, 41, of Crisfield, has been arrested and charged in connection to the death of 27-year-old Princess Anne resident Dequan Javon Fields last year in Somerset County after he was reported missing by his family.
The Somerset County State's Attorney presented to case to a grand jury last week, officials said, which returned an indictment charging Pruitt with multiple counts of murder, authorities announced on Thursday afternoon.
An alert was issued by state police investigators last year after his family was unable to contact Fields in January and a 2004 gold Dodge Durango that belongs to him was located at the Deal Island Wildlife Nature Preserve in Somerset County covered in mud with blood inside the vehicle.
The blood was processed by the Maryland State Police Forensic Science Division and Fields’ disseverance is being considered suspicious.
It was later determined that Pruitt and Fields knew each other.
According to investigators, the truck was operated on Deal Island Road and nearby areas between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Jan. 10, 2023, two days before Fields was reported missing.
He still has not been found, despite multiple searches involving local, state, federal agencies, as well as public volunteers.
Pruitt was charged with:
- First- and second-degree murder;
- Armed robbery;
- Use of a firearm in a felony or violent crime;
- Armed carjacking, and other related offenses.
He is being held without bond at the Somerset County Detention Center
Anyone with information regarding Fields' disappearance, or his vehicle - specifically during that time frame - has been asked to contact Senior Trooper Allen by calling (443) 298-9447.
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