Murder suspect won't stand trial anytime soon

Federal warrants tie up White case

Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2008

William Marcus "Mark" White, a former Mechanicsville resident, already was being held for the bank robbery when St. Mary's grand jurors indicted him last fall in the June 2006 death of Robert Martin "Bobby" Phipps, whose bludgeoned body was found on the floor of his Hairtasia business.

White is charged with first-degree murder and bringing a hammer to carry out the attack.

From the onset of White's indictment, St. Mary's authorities have acknowledged the logistical issues in bringing him from Missouri to here. An invitation received this month from a prison warden in Bonne Terre, Mo., to expedite the process apparently was for naught.

"We tried to go get him, but … the U.S. marshals just snapped him up again," St. Mary's State's Attorney Richard Fritz said at his office in the county courthouse. "So many people are trying to prosecute him that we have to wait our turn to get him back."

Steve Larkins of the Eastern Reception Diagnostic and Correctional Center in the Missouri city prepared the "offer to deliver temporary custody" of White that arrived Oct. 7 at the St. Mary's courthouse, "in order that speedy and efficient prosecution may be had of the [murder] indictment."

The notice indicated White's request in that regard, and included a tally of his 30-year sentence which dates back to his arrest there in August 2006, two months after the St. Mary's homicide. White's first parole hearing is set for February 2030.

St. Mary's Assistant State's Attorney Robyn Riddle said last week that a process to extradite White to Maryland was initiated, but federal authorities moved him to a federal facility on their charges from additional bank robberies "in multiple states."

The prosecutor said it is unclear when White will be turned over to St. Mary's, but that the wait could be beneficial if it removes any hurdles between his arraignment and trial, which would have to commence within 180 days.

"Our time to try the case starts to run after he's served with our paperwork," Riddle said.

St. Mary's authorities have described White, now 33, as an acquaintance of the 61-year-old Aquasco resident.

Detectives sought to assure the public after the homicide that Phipps' death was not a random attack, as the lengthy investigation focused on a DNA-comparison process.

"Our case is prepared," Fritz said. "We're ready for trial. It's just a matter of getting our prisoner."

jwharton@somdnews.com