Couple's Slaying Rocks South Laurel; Disabled Daughter Found Unharmed

Police say a severely disabled woman was found shaken but unhurt Thursday near the bodies of her mother and her mother's partner—the apparent victims of a double homicide in their South Laurel apartment.

Tina Towler, 45, and James Vell Ferguson, 42, were found dead at their home in the 9600 block of Muirkirk Road, according to Prince George's County police.

PGPD spokeswoman Julie Parker said two patrol officers responded to the Montpelier Crossing complex around 8:15 a.m. to check on the occupants of the apartment.

When they arrived, they encountered the bodies of Towler and Ferguson in their first floor apartment, both apparently suffering from upper body trauma. The two were pronounced dead at the scene.

A nurse who cares for Towler's 25-year-old daughter had first discovered the couple when she arrived Thursday morning, Parker said.

The daughter, who police said suffers from paraplegia and cerebral palsy, was transported to a nearby hospital for observation. Parker said it was "difficult if not impossible" for her to speak.

Neighbors reported hearing loud arguing from the apartment around 5 a.m. Thursday, according to Parker.

Parker said police are treating the couple's deaths as a double homicide. Detectives spent much of Thursday searching for evidence, and autopsies were set to be conducted Friday morning.

Neighbor Charles Collins described Ferguson as friendly and said Ferguson would occasionally offer him a beer when he'd see him outside.

"I just don't understand why anyone would want to kill him," Collins said.

According to Collins, Ferguson did occasional work for a contractor and Towler was an employee of Verizon.

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Thursday's coverage:

Update, 9:41 p.m.: Police have identified the vicitims of Thursday's double homicide as James Vell Ferguson, 42, and Tina Towler, 45, both of the 9600 block of Muirkirk Road in South Laurel.

Update, 4:37 p.m.: Prince George's County police have clarified several details of Thursday's double homicide at a South Laurel apartment complex:

• Both the male and female victims were found "suffering from trauma to the upper body" when police officers arrived on scene Thursday morning.
• The 25-year-old daughter of the female victim was unhurt, police said, but was transported to a hospital for observation.
• Neighbors reported hearing "loud voices" from the apartment at around 5:00 a.m.

Investigators are still working to establish a suspect and motive in the case.

Update, 12:40 p.m.: Police said the bodies of a South Laurel couple were found by a nurse who cared for their disabled daughter, an adult, on Monday morning.

Follow @LaurelPatch on Twitter for updates as the investigation develops.

Update, 11:44 a.m: A neighbor said a man and a woman were found dead this morning in their South Laurel home.

The couple lived in an apartment complex in the 9600 block of Muirkirk Road. Although the homicide was outside the jurisdiction of the city of Laurel, city spokesman Pete Piringer said Prince George's police discovered the victims around 8:20 a.m. while conducting a welfare check at the residence.

Neighbor Charles Collins described the apparent victims as friendly.

"I just don't understand why anyone would want to kill him," he said of the male victim.

Police said a third person, who Collins identified as the female victim's daughter, was transported to a hospital and is set to be released.

Update, 11:15 a.m: PGPD Communications Director Julie Parker tweeted that the adult child with special needs was transported to a local hospital for evaluation. The person should be released shortly.

She also called it a homicide investigation.

Original Post, 10:36 a.m.: Two people are reported dead as police are on the scene of what they're calling a death investigation in South Laurel.

The deceased were found in a home on the 9600 block of Muirkirk Road Thursday morning, according to Prince George's County Police.

A third person was transported to the hospital. Sources told WJLA that the person has special needs.