Justin Fenton

Baltimore

Investigative Reporter at The Baltimore Banner

Investigative reporter at the @BaltimoreBanner. Author of WE OWN THIS CITY, which became HBO miniseries. Support local news

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Articles

Forensic Failures: 36 Police-Custody Deaths Should Have Been Ruled a Homicide, Audit Finds

6 days ago | portside.org | Justin Fenton |Ben Conarck |Pamela Wood

Forensic Failures: 36 Police-Custody Deaths Should Have Been Ruled a Homicide, Audit Finds Published May 31, 2025 An unprecedented independent audit found that 36 deaths in police custody over a two-decade span in Maryland should have been ruled homicides by the state’s top medical examiner, a stinging rebuke of Maryland‘s past efforts to investigate the deaths of those once held by law enforcement.
Black Agenda Report

1 week ago | blackagendareport.com | Chris Hedges |Justin Fenton |Ben Conarck |Pamela Wood

With his veto earlier this month of legislation to study reparations for the descendants of enslaved Africans, Maryland Governor Wes Moore, a Democrat, signaled two things: first, he intends to seek his party’s nomination for the White House in 2028; and secondly, he plans to redeploy the discredited strategy of appealing to white voters by distancing his campaign from African Americans.
Ben Stiller’s sleuthing around Baltimore for Spiro Agnew film

2 weeks ago | thebaltimorebanner.com | Justin Fenton

Actor and director Ben Stiller visited Baltimore’s downtown courthouse this week as he reportedly prepares a film project about former U.S. vice president and Maryland Gov. Spiro Agnew. Agnew resigned the vice presidency on Oct. 10, 1973, after abruptly appearing in what is now called the Elijah E. Cummings Courthouse to plead no contest to one count of evading federal income taxes.
36 people who died in police custody will have their cases revisited. Here’s who they are

3 weeks ago | thebaltimorebanner.com | Ben Conarck |Maya Lora |Meredith Cohn |Justin Fenton

Maryland officials this weekreleased a groundbreaking report on statemedical examiner investigations of police-custody deaths that found “patterns” of racial and pro-police bias and vowed to review at least three dozen cases dating as far back as 2003. Some of the cases were high-profile deaths that remained ingrained in the public‘s consciousness. Others havebeen nearly forgotten by all but the loved ones still grappling with painful memories and unanswered questions.
Federal prosecutors will seek death penalty in Maryland gang case, reversing course

3 weeks ago | thebaltimorebanner.com | Justin Fenton

Federal prosecutors in Maryland filed notice Friday that they intend to seek the death penalty against three defendants in an MS-13 gang murder case, reversing course amid a directive by President Trump to try to use capital punishment more often. The case, which involves two murders and four attempted murders, has been pending since 2022. A trial is set for later this year.
New state audit recommends homicide classification for West’s death

3 weeks ago | thebaltimorebanner.com | Justin Fenton

It’s been more than a decade, but supporters never gave up on their crusade for Tyrone West, who died after struggling with Baltimore Police in 2013. His sister, Tawanda Jones, has staged hundreds of weekly protests called “West Wednesdays” in an attempt to keep the pressure on her brother’s case, which was initially ruled to be the result of a mix of factors, none of them caused by police.
What you need to know about Maryland’s audit of police-custody deaths

3 weeks ago | thebaltimorebanner.com | Ben Conarck |Dylan Segelbaum |Justin Fenton

Marylandofficials on Thursday released a wide-ranging independentaudit of nearly 90 in-custody deaths spanning 2003 to 2019, finding thatthree dozen cases should have been classified as homicides but were not. The unprecedented review was sparked by a highly critical letter from more than 400 medical professionals raising questions about the tenure of Maryland’s former chief medical examiner.
Audit: 36 police-custody deaths should have been ruled a homicide

3 weeks ago | thebaltimorebanner.com | Justin Fenton |Ben Conarck |Pamela Wood

An unprecedented independent audit found that 36 deaths in police custody over a two-decade span in Maryland should have been ruled homicides by the state’s top medical examiner, a stinging rebuke of Maryland‘s past efforts to investigate the deaths of those once held by law enforcement.
After Trump directive, Maryland federal cases get new death penalty review

3 weeks ago | thebaltimorebanner.com | Justin Fenton

Two murder cases nearing trial in Maryland’s federal courts are getting a new review by federal officialsover whether to seek the death penalty, following an executive order issued earlier this year by President Donald J. Trump. This week, U.S. District Judge Stephanie Gallagher asked prosecutors in the two cases to let her know by Friday if the Department of Justice’s Capital Case Unit, which she said reopened the cases for capital review last month, would indeed seek the death penalty.
Justin Tucker was cut by the Ravens. Here’s everything you need to know.

1 month ago | thebaltimorebanner.com | Justin Fenton

The Ravens cut longtime kicker and fan favorite Justin Tucker on Monday, more than three months after allegations of inappropriate sexual behavior against multiple Baltimore-area massage therapists surfaced. The cut came after two days of seeing their new rookie kicker at camp and with an NFL investigation into those allegations still pending. Here’s what you need to know.