CUMBERLAND — Former Frostburg State University student Shanee Lynnette Liggins pleaded guilty to second-degree murder Monday in connection with the November 2011 stabbing death of FSU student Kortneigh McCoy outside a Frostburg off-campus residence.
Liggins entered the plea in Allegany County Circuit Court before Judge W. Timothy Finan as part of a plea agreement in which the state dismissed all other charges in the case, according to State’s Attorney Michael Twigg.
Twigg recommended a sentence of 14 years of actual incarceration as part of the agreement. Conviction of second-degree murder carries a maximum prison term of 30 years and the sentencing guidelines are for a sentence of 10 to 20 years.
Finan ordered a presentencing investigation. Sentencing is expected to take place in six to eight weeks.
At her request to address the victim’s family, granted by the judge without objection from the state, Liggins turned to the victim’s family and friends in the courtroom and said, “I am very sorry for what happened. If I could take back that day I would do that.”
The plea was accepted by the court where a several-day jury trial for Liggins was scheduled to begin Tuesday.
Liggins, of Waldorf, was 23 at the time of the incident and was enrolled at FSU as a senior business major.
McCoy, 19, of Baltimore, died of multiple stab wounds after being taken to the Western Maryland Regional Medical Center. Frostburg Police found her lying on the ground outside a Maple Street residence at about 1:30 a.m. Nov. 6, 2011.
McCoy, who was studying engineering at FSU, suffered fatal injuries when she became involved in an altercation with Liggins. The two women reportedly argued inside the residence before the fight took place outside.
Liggins was arrested immediately after the incident following investigation by Frostburg Police and the C3I Unit. She was jailed from Nov. 6 until Dec. 20, 2011, when she posted $350,000 bond for a pretrial release.
Liggins was ordered to monitored home confinement at her family residence in Waldorf pending sentencing.
The fatal stabbing occurred a short distance from the East College Avenue location where FSU student Brandon Carroll, 21, was shot and killed April 18, 2010.
FSU student Ellis Hartridge was wounded in the incident and survived.
The shooting led to the conviction of former FSU student Tyrone Hall, who pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the shotgun slaying. Hall was sentenced in circuit court to five years in prison in that incident.
Twigg prosecuted the Liggins case. Liggins was represented by Baltimore attorney John Cox, who was present at Monday’s hearing, and attorney Richard Winelander.
Local News
Related Photos
Liggins pleads guilty to FSU stabbing death
Sentencing expected in 6 to 8 weeks
- Local News
-
-
‘Time just kind of stood still’
Helmeted rescue workers raced Tuesday to complete the search for survivors and the dead in the Oklahoma City suburb where a mammoth tornado destroyed countless homes, cleared lots down to bare red earth and claimed 24 lives, including those of nine children.
-
Times-News graphic designer wins first place editorial contest award
Times-News graphic artist Shannon Burnside won first place for Best Feature Page Design in the 2013 Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association Editorial Awards Contest.
-
City hopes economic strategies clear way for job creation, growth
Shawn Hershberger, economic development coordinator for the city, gave an update of the strategies being pursued for economic growth, including developing an educational center at the former Human Resources Development Commission location.
-
Protesters rally at FirstEnergy meeting
At least 200 union workers picketed FirstEnergy’s annual shareholder meeting in West Virginia on Tuesday, demanding the Ohio-based utility hire enough people to keep the power on without forcing an ever-shrinking labor force to work as many as 1,800 hours of overtime a year.
-
For all the marbles
-
Retired Garrett emergency services chief receives state EMS award
Brad Frantz, former director of the Garrett County Department of Emergency Management, is the recipient of the Leon W. Hayes Award for Excellence in Emergency Medical Services and was honored during a Tuesday ceremony in Annapolis by the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems.
-
Appalachian Lab professor honored for fracking report
Keith Eshleman, a professor at the Appalachian Laboratory and an expert in the field of watershed hydrology, has been honored by the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science with the President’s Award for Excellence in Application of Science.
- In Brief - 05/22/2013
-
DelFest activities kick off with annual teaching academy
As temperatures in the Cumberland area soared into the upper 80’s Monday and hit 90 on Tuesday, the DelFest folks were going full tilt at the Allegany County Fairgrounds, getting ready for their upcoming Memorial Day weekend music festival.
-
2 adults, 3 teens charged in former Sacred Heart Hospital breaking and entering
Two adults and three juveniles have been charged in connection with a recent breaking and entering of the former Sacred Heart Hospital complex on Seton Drive, according to the C3I Unit.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Jodi Arias: Death Penalty Would Cause More Pain
Protests Outside Cincinnati IRS Office
Former Rep. Weiner Running for New York Mayor
Police Ram House to End Hostage Standoff
Families Begin Returning to Their Homes in Moore
Lawyer: Feds Investigating Susan Powell Case
Raw: Aerial View of Moore Tornado Damage
Crews Race to Find Survivors of Okla. Twister
First Person: Baby Falcons on a New York Bridge
Oklahoma: Images of Devastation, Reunion
Reunited Dad, Son: 'We Just Praise God'
Moore, Okla. City of Reunions, Tears After Storm
Gov. Fallin: Okla. Facing Horrific Disaster
Former IRS Chief: Can't Say How List Happened
Arias Tells Jury What She'd Do if She Gets Life
AP Photograher: 'It Was a Miracle' They Got Out
Raw: Crews Search for Survivors of Okla. Tornado
Raw: Tearful Reunion After Okla. Tornado
OKC Hospital Describes Treating Tornado Wounded
Obama Pledges Urgent Aid for Tornado Victims
