Murder USA: Buck passed, cops finger Slaughter as killer; police search ended with discovery of killer with bullet in head

Buck passed, cops finger Slaughter as killer

Suspect drove behind Mount Zion Church after talking to detective and shot self in head; case over

LUSBY, MD. — Police say that after a few minutes of trying out CPR on Levi Buck who had been shot in the head that his injuries were “incompatible with life” threw in the towel and began to look for his killer.

Calvert Sheriff Mike Evans reports that on May 2, 2015 at approximately 1642 hours members of the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office patrol Bureau responded to 8296 Sycamore Road, Lusby, Maryland 20657 for a report of an unconscious  male. 

Upon arrival units discovered a male, later identified as Levi Buck, 48 year old male.   It became apparent that Buck was suffering from a gunshot wound to the head.   CPR was performed; however after another assessment it was determined that Buck’s injuries were incompatible with life and he was pronounced dead on the scene.

Due to the nature of the crime Calvert Investigations Bureau (CIB) assumed the investigation into the death of Levi Buck.  During the investigation numerous witnesses were interviewed and were cooperating with the investigation. 

Shortly after assuming the investigation CIB detectives developed a person of interest in the case.  Robert Scott Slaughter, 43 years old of Mechanicsville, Maryland, was sought for questioning by the detectives.   A multi-jurisdictional broadcast was conducted containing description of Slaughter and his vehicle, a 2006 red Ford Mustang GT.  Officers from Calvert County Sheriff’s Office, St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office, Charles County Sheriff’s Office and Maryland State Police were attempting to locate Slaughter on the roadways, as well as at various places Slaughter was known to frequent. 

The Calvert County State’s Attorney’s Office assigned ASA A. Rappaport to the case in effort to provide support to detectives during the investigation.  

The Calvert County Sheriff’s Office CIB deployed numerous detectives throughout the Southern Maryland region in an attempt to apprehend Slaughter, as he was considered armed and dangerous following the shooting on Sycamore Road. 

Police say that on Saturday May 2nd at approximately at 8:49 pm Det. M. Mudd, of the Criminal Investigations Bureau, made contact with Slaughter via telephone and spoke with Slaughter for approximately five minutes.  Slaughter indicated to Det. M. Mudd that he was in Huntingtown and was coming to the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office in order to speak with detectives regarding the incident on Sycamore Road.   

Slaughter never came to the Sheriff’s Officer and that was the last conversation Slaughter had with anyone known to investigators.  

Prior to speaking with Det. M. Mudd on the phone, Slaughter had a brief conversation with his wife and exchanged a limited number of text messages throughout the evening.  Based on the contents of Slaughter’s messages it was believed that he may have been considering suicide.  Units from the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office, St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office and Charles County Sheriff’s Office continued to follow-up leads, canvass southern Maryland roadways and neighborhoods and work with cell phone providers in order to locate Slaughter. 

The efforts continued from the time of the call until 5/3/2015 at approximately 0530 hours; however, Slaughter was not located. On 5/3/2015 at 1130 hours CIB Detectives were deployed to the White Sands neighborhood and canvassed the area in search of additional witnesses to the shooting.  Additional interviews, with witnesses who were already identified, were also conducted by detectives. 

The search for Slaughter resumed and continued until the evening hours on Sunday 5/3/2015. On 5/4/2015 at approximately 0700 hours an officer with the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office observed Slaughter’s vehicle in the rear parking lot of Mount Zion Church, Mechanicsville, Maryland.  Slaughter was observed in the front seat and was not moving.  With assistance from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Services Team the vehicle was secured and entry was gained. 

Detectives from CIB responded to the scene and assisted the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office with scene processing. 

Robert Scott Slaughter was found in the driver’s seat suffering from a single gunshot wound to the head.  Slaughter was pronounced dead on the scene.  Investigation revealed that Slaughter’s injury was self-inflicted.  A small caliber rifle was located in Slaughters right hand.    

Slaughter appeared to be deceased for some time, although the exact time of death is pending an autopsy by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, in Baltimore. Based on the information learned during the investigation, facts of the case, electronic data and witness statements Slaughter shot and killed Levi Buck on 5/2/2015.  Slaughter fled the scene and subsequently took his own life sometime on the evening of 5/2/2015 or the early morning hours on 5/3/2015.

Slaughter, who lived at 29940 Cross Woods Drive in Mechanicsville, was charged with obtaining prescription drugs by fraud on Oct. 30, 2013. He was also charged with altering a prescription and possession of drugs.

On Nov. 20, 2014, Slaughter entered into a plea deal with St. Mary’s States Attorney Richard Fritz and pleaded guilty to the prescription drug alteration charge which had been placed by St. Mary’s Sheriff’s Capt. Daniel Alioto. His sentence of one year in jail was suspended to only 30 days in jail. Slaughter was charged with a half dozen traffic charges related to failing to have tags, insurance, drivers permit and knowingly driving without insurance on Golden Beach Road in Golden Beach, Md., on May 12, 2012 by Maryland State Trooper Pitcher of the Leonardtown Barrack. 

In a plea deal with the taxpayer-provided public defender and St. Mary’s States Attorney Fritz, Slaughter was given a probation before judgment on Sept. 5, 2012. He was sentenced to 10 days in jail and all of the jail time was suspended. He was fined $435 and $300 of the fine was suspended under the terms of the deal.

Robert S. Slaughter, 42, of Mechanicsville, was served with a bench warrant on 6/17/14 at 2:00 pm for Failure to Appear in Court by the Maryland State Police.

According to St. Mary’s Sheriff Tim Cameron, Robert Scott Slaughter, 42, of Mechanicsville, Md., was served on Feb. 6, 2014, with an attachment for contempt of court by Deputy Flerlage.