Body Found Is Man Suspected In Local Slaying

CLARKSVILLE, Md. -- By Robert Lewis Thornton.
A body found at floating in the Triadelphia Reservoir on Friday is that of a man wanted on attempted murder charges, police in Howard and Montgomery counties said. Robert Lewis Thornton, 46, of Gaithersburg, Md., was found in the Triadelphia Reservoir near Brighton Dam at about 3 p.m. Montgomery County police said they have arranged for the transport of Thornton's body to the medical examiner’s office in Baltimore for an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death. Howard County police confirmed that Thornton was wanted there on charges of attempted first- and second-degree murder, first- and second-degree assault, attempted carjacking, attempted armed robbery and reckless endangerment in connection with a May 12 incident.

That night, at about 11:15 p.m., Howard County police responded to Brighton Dam Road in Clarksville near the county line after an assault was reported. Howard County police said they believe that Thornton and a female friend, a Howard County woman in her 40s who is not being identified, had an argument in a neighboring county. As the woman left the area in her vehicle, Thornton followed her in his car, police said. Howard County police said they believe Thornton, driving a Dodge Ram pickup truck, intentionally rear-ended the woman, causing her to lose control of her car and pull over on the shoulder of Brighton Dam Road. Thornton also lost control of his vehicle, striking a tree, police said. Howard County police said they believe Thornton then chased the woman into a nearby wooded area, made threats against her life and cut her in the neck with an unknown object. They said he was last seen fleeing the area on foot. SOURCE: WBAL TV