DAVONN DUPREE - 14 yo (2008) - Silver Spring MD

A 34-year-old Silver Spring man was sentenced to life in prison
Thursday, minutes after issuing a meek apology to family members of a
14-year-old runaway he strangled and stabbed to death in late 2008.

"Look at how you worded it," Montgomery County Circuit Judge Eric
Johnson said from the bench. "You told them you are sorry for 'what
happened.' Mr. Bailey, earthquakes 'happen,' hurricanes 'happen.' People
do things. You did this. It didn't 'happen.' It wasn't some ghost that
came in and did this."

Under Maryland laws, Tracy Bailey could become eligible for parole. But
the governor's office must sign off on parole for those convicted of
murder who receive life sentences.

"The notion that you should go back into society is frightening,"
Johnson said. "And it's not going to happen if this court has anything to do with it."

Bailey, who earlier served a 13-year sentence in New York for attempted
murder, was living as a transient in Montgomery in fall 2008. He met the
runaway, Davonn Dupree, and the two began squatting in an apartment
along Castle Boulevard in Silver Spring.

At some point, Dupree caught Bailey sleeping with a girl, and the two argued.

Bailey handcuffed Dupree and strangled and stabbed her in the left side
of the neck, according to prosecutors.

He then moved the bed to a corner of the room to conceal the blood, prosecutors said.

A few days later, Bailey moved Dupree's body to a secluded stairwell, prosecutors said.

Dupree had a troubled childhood. But at the time of her death, she was
going to high school and had plans to become a nurse, prosecutors said.
Her grandmother and relatives remain devastated by her slaying.

Bailey's attorney, Michael Gambrill, said his client is mentally ill.
"Mr. Bailey is a sick individual," Gambrill told the judge. "His mental
health troubles date back 15 to 20 years at least."

After prosecutors explained the case, the judge gave Bailey a chance to speak.
"I just want to apologize for the incident that happened to the family
that lost their daughter," he said. "Some of the stuff [the prosecutor]
was saying, that ain't what happened. But I don't want to go back into
that. . . . I know it's sad that it happened."