A wig disguise case has shocked Maryland after police charged a 22-year-old assisted living employee with murdering an elderly philanthropist and shooting at a state trooper. Authorities allege Marquis Emilio James disguised himself in long female wigs before executing 87-year-old Robert G. Fuller Jr. inside a senior living facility. The plot unraveled after a traffic stop linked ballistic evidence to both crimes.
The Montgomery County Department of Police confirmed James’ arrest in connection with the Valentine’s Day killing at the Cogir Potomac Senior Living Facility. Police said surveillance footage showed James entering and exiting through a tampered courtyard door near the time Fuller was fatally shot in the head. Investigators later discovered the door’s alarm sensor had been disabled in January on a day James was the only person seen using it.
Montgomery County Police Chief Marc Yamada stated nothing appeared to have been taken from Fuller’s apartment. Folded paper towels used to prop doors open were recovered during the investigation. Days after the killing, James allegedly triggered another exterior door alarm and fled when a supervisor was about to be notified.
At 3:30 a.m. Tuesday, a Maryland State Police trooper stopped James’ vehicle in West Baltimore for missing license plates. As the trooper approached, James opened the door and fired two shots, according to Lt. Col. Steve Decerbo. “Without a doubt, our Maryland State trooper escaped an outcome that could have ended much differently,” Decerbo said. The trooper sustained minor injuries.
Authorities arrested James in Rockville after a brief foot chase. He faces first-degree murder charges and is being held without bond. During searches, investigators recovered “numerous” wigs and a mask matching the disguise seen in surveillance footage.
