Maryland Teen Accused of Raping, Murdering Woman After She Rejected His Offer to Clear Snow Off Her Car: Cops

A Maryland teenager is being charged as an adult after authorities alleged he raped and killed a 61-year-old lady after she turned down his offer to clean snow from her car.

On Jan. 22, Tammy Sue Coates was discovered dead inside her apartment in Brunswick, according to the Brunswick Police Department.

Coates’ daughter found her mother's body after she hadn’t heard from her mother in a while and went to check on her, officials said.

Police believe Coates, who suffered multiple stab wounds and appeared to have been strangled, was dead for five days.

Authorities said an investigation led detectives to 17-year-old Juwaun Terry Stewart, who lived near the victim. A witness told police they allegedly saw Stewart speaking with Coates.

Stewart asked Coates after it had snowed if he could clean her car off, but she declined, according to police.

Investigators believe Stewart then entered Coates’ unlocked apartment, where he allegedly tried to rob her.

During that struggle, Stewart is accused of raping and killing her.

Police said money was stolen from the home.

Police determined Stewart was being held in the Department of Juvenile Justice for an unrelated offense and he had been picked up only a few days after police began their investigation into Coates’ death.

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Officials said search warrants were executed at Stewart’s residence and on electronic devices.

After receiving DNA results, on March 13, police arrested Stewart and charged him as an adult with first-degree murder, first-degree rape, first-degree assault, first-degree burglary, home invasion, and felony theft.