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Charles William Davis Jr., who has been housed at the Jessup Correctional Institution since 1978 for other crimes, admitted to killing Sturtz after detectives showed him a different photo of her that more closely resembled how she looked at the time of her death.
The case remained unsolved for decades after Davis initially failed to identify Sturtz in a 1981 interview, despite providing details of her murder.
The discovery of that decades-old recording, along with a letter granting Davis immunity from prosecution, ultimately led to a breakthrough.
“Today is a day of remembrance, closure, and justice," Howard County Executive Calvin Ball said.
"This moment is not just about solving a case, it’s about honoring Ann’s life, providing her family with long-overdue answers, and seeking justice, no matter how much time has passed,”
Howard County detectives re-interviewed Davis in late 2024, where he finally confessed. Since the immunity deal still stands, he cannot be charged, but police have officially closed the case.
“This is our second-oldest cold case, and its closure makes clear that we will never rest in our pursuit of justice,” Police Chief Gregory Der said. We can now bring closure to Ann’s family, even 50 years later.”
Sturtz was reported missing on Aug. 24, 1975.
Her body was found months later in a wooded area off Route 108 in Columbia, showing signs of trauma. Investigators believe Davis met Sturtz at a bar, assaulted her, and dumped her body.
For her family, the closure is long overdue but deeply meaningful.
“In November 2024, we were grateful to have all the case details, learned Roseann’s actual date of death, and received the closure we have been praying for all these years,” Sturtz’s family said in a statement. “Almost 50 years later, we have closure and would like to say ‘thank you’ from the bottom of our hearts.
"The sympathy, kindness, respect, and warmth that was shown to us over these past few months will be forever in our hearts.”
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