Abingdon Man Sentenced to Life Without Parole in Murder of Roommate; Stabbed, Bludgeoned, Dropped Body in Susquehanna River

From the Harford County State’s Attorney’s Office:

Sean Turkot was sentenced on Tuesday, February 16, 2016, to Life without the possibility of parole for First Degree Murder. He was convicted by a Harford County jury on December 8, 2015, of First Degree Murder and Conspiracy to commit First Degree Murder for the murder of his roommate, Edward Hayden, on January 4, 2015.

Mr. Turkot and his co-defendant, Alexander Smoot, stabbed and bludgeoned Mr. Hayden and wrapped his body in a blanket and a tarp, and dropped it in the Susquehanna River near Susquehanna State Park. Hayden’s mother, Kathleen Riley, told the court that her family is still dealing with the loss of her son Edward.

“No parent should ever have to bury a child” she stated in her victim impact statement to the Court. “Eddie’s death was senseless. There was no reason for it. He didn’t have to die”. Mr. Hayden also left behind a four year old son, whose mother told the court that “her son misses his father every day. He still asks about him and watches videos of them playing together.”

Turkot was also sentenced to a life sentence for the charge of conspiracy to commit murder. Deputy State’s Attorney Diane Adkins Tobin told the Court that “Mr. Turkot was the catalyst for this murder. The evidence showed that he planned it, purchased the items used to dispose of the body, and actively recruited Smoot to assist him with the murder.” Smoot pleaded guilty to First Degree Murder for his part of the murder. He is scheduled to be sentenced in March.