Jury mulls murder case against Sifrit

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Ocean City tourist murder case goes to jury.

From STAFF and WIRE REPORTS

Date published: 4/9/2003

Ex-SEAL says wife killed 2 tourists

ROCKVILLE, Md.--Benjamin Sifrit claims he was sleeping off a long night of drinking in his Jeep while his wife was killing two tourists in their Ocean City condominium. His only role in the crime, he said, was to cut up and dispose of the bodies.

But Worcester County prosecutors say Sifrit was wide awake early May 26, chasing Virginia residents Martha Crutchley and Joshua Ford into the condo bathroom and shooting them as they cowered behind the door. The two were killed as part of a twisted game the Sifrits played more than once, prosecutors said.

Where Sifrit was that morning is probably a key factor for jurors determining his role in the slayings of Ford, 32, and Crutchley, 51. The case went yesterday to a Montgomery County jury after a six-day trial.

Sifrit is charged with two counts of first-degree murder and several other charges in the deaths of the Fairfax couple. His wife, Erika--a Mary Washington College honors graduate--faces similar charges and is scheduled to go on trial June 2 in Frederick County. Both cases were moved from Worcester County due to pretrial publicity.

In his closing argument, State's Attorney Joel Todd said the Sifrits lured Crutchley and Ford back to the penthouse suite at the Rainbow Condominium after a night in the bars.

Once there, the Sifrits played their game, he said. Erika Sifrit claimed her purse had been stolen, sending her husband into a rage. Rather than panic, Todd said, Ford probably stood his ground, not intimidated by the former Navy SEAL's anger.

"Joshua Ford didn't want to play the game," Todd said.

But when Sifrit pulled out a gun, Ford and Crutchley fled to the bathroom, with Ford leaning against the door as a barricade, Todd said. Sifrit fired once through the door, hitting Ford in the arm, then kicked it down.

He allegedly shot Ford two more times, and then turned on Crutchley. Todd said authorities don't believe Crutchley was shot, but he couldn't say how she died because little of her body was recovered.

Todd acknowledged he can't prove conclusively that it was Sifrit, not his wife, who fired the gun. But he said Sifrit was not innocently sleeping when the other couple was murdered.

Date published: 4/9/2003