Grand Jury Disbands Without Indictment in Prisoner's Killing

A Prince George's County grand jury hearing evidence in the June slaying of an inmate who was accused of killing a police officer has completed its term without issuing an indictment, prosecutors said yesterday.

State's Attorney Glenn F. Ivey sought to downplay the development. He said the investigation into the death of Ronnie White, 19, is continuing and that a new grand jury has been empaneled and will hear evidence in the case.

"It's not that significant," Ivey said. "It's actually pretty routine" to present cases to consecutive grand juries.

Sources familiar with the investigation, speaking on condition of anonymity because grand jury proceedings are secret, said the last grand jury heard testimony from jail guards who are under suspicion in White's death, a state medical examiner and other witnesses. Their sworn statements could be presented to the new grand jury, or they could be called to testify again.

Citing the secrecy rules, Ivey declined to comment on whether he sought any indictments from the grand jury that has disbanded. WJLA TV-7 reported yesterday that the jury had declined to issue an indictment.

However, the Maryland State Police and the FBI have not completed their investigations into White's killing, Ivey said.

Two guards who were assigned to the maximum-security unit where White died, Cpl. Anthony McIntosh and Cpl. Ramon Davis, were placed on leave in September. Without publicly naming them, county officials said the Maryland State Police had identified them as "the focus" of the police investigation.

"The key is what the ultimate result will be and whether, I would say, it's a right result," Ivey said.

White was at the jail for just over 36 hours, charged with first-degree murder in the death of Cpl. Richard S. Findley. A medical examiner found that White had been strangled.