MURDER USA: Andrew Duncanson indicted for Fentanyl death of Christian Ellis

THE CHESAPEAKE TODAY – ALL CRIME ALL THE TIME – Copyright 2019

MURDER USA: Andrew Duncanson indicted for Fentanyl death of Christian Ellis

LEONARDTOWN, MD. – Sometimes those who engage in choosing recreational drugs get a fatal dose of what they intended to be a cheap high. This has certainly been the case for the last ten years in the mid-Atlantic region as opioid overdose deaths have spiraled to unparalleled heights. In many of those deaths, there has been a supplier of those drugs involved and in the past few years, prosecutors have been leveling felony murder charges against those they believe they can prove responsible.

On Sept. 30, 2019, St. Mary’s States Attorney Richard Fritz issued indictments handed down by the Grand Jury that the death on May 5, 2018, of Christian Scott Ellis, 25, of Leonardtown, was due to a Fentanyl overdose, provided by his pal and Facebook friend, Andrew Duncanson.

The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Department Vice Narcotics Division investigated Ellis’ death, and identified Andrew Gordon Duncanson, 24, of 44191 Saint Andrews Circle, California, Maryland as the dealer of the fatal dose to Ellis.  According to numerous posts, the two men had been friends all through school years in Leonardtown.

St. Mary’s Sheriff Tim Cameron reports that the investigation initiated after the death of Ellis determined the distribution of Fentanyl occurred in St. Mary’s County.

On September 26, 2019, Police say that Duncanson was discovered to be in Baltimore and arrested. 

Duncanson was charged by the St. Mary’s County Grand Jury
with the following indictments:

  • Felony Murder Second Degree
  • Felony Murder Second Degree-Depraved Heart
  • Felony CDS: Distribution-Not Marijuana
  • Felony CDS: Knowingly Distribute-Not Marijuana
  • CDS: Possession-Not Marijuana

Duncanson is currently incarcerated at the St. Mary’s Jail in Leonardtown on a no-bond status. Currently, there is not an attorney listed on court records representing Duncanson. A status hearing is set for Oct. 15, 2019, with a motion hearing on Nov. 13, 2019. A jury trial has been set for Dec. 10th through Dec. 11, 2019.

Ellis, of 44117 Little Holly Lane, Leonardtown, Md.  was a 2011 graduate of Leonardtown High School and was employed by HAS Construction as a Carpenter.

ACCUSED KILLER A COFFIN MAKER

Duncanson, according to posts on his Facebook page, works at the York Casket Company in York, Pennsylvania.  Duncanson states that he worked in the spray booth at York Casket, which apparently will be short one coffin maker.

He also states that he works as an installer at Lowes.

THREE DAYS AFTER MURDER, ACCUSED KILLER BUSTED, GOT PLEA DEAL ON DRUG POSSESSION RAP

On May 8, 2018, three days after allegedly providing the fatal dose of Fentanyl to Ellis, Duncanson was charged by St. Mary’s Sheriff Deputy Timothy Snyder with possession of drugs (such as heroin, Fentanyl, cocaine) not marijuana and paraphernalia. With a free attorney paid for by the Taxpayers of Maryland, Duncanson entered a guilty plea on Aug. 14, 2018, and in a plea deal with States Attorney Richard Fritz, was sentenced to one year in jail with all but thirty days suspended. This outcome shows that the same man that Fritz now has indicted with second-degree depraved-heart murder was arrested three days after the alleged murder of Ellis and granted a plea deal that landed him in jail for only thirty days.

  • The day before Duncanson allegedly murdered Ellis, he was cited by St. Mary’s Sheriff’s Deputy Robert Chase, for a violation that took place on April 20, 2018; that of failing to control his speed to avoid a crash on Rt. 235 and Rt. 4 while operating a 2007 Toyota.
  • Duncanson was charged in Charles County District Court on Nov. 14, 2016, by Charles County Patrol Officer Jen McKenzie with theft. In a plea deal, Duncanson entered a plea of guilty and was sentenced to 90 days in jail and fined $500 with all of the fine suspended.
  • Duncanson was arrested by St. Mary’s Deputy Daniel Holdsworth and charged with theft. On Jan. 26, 2017, Duncanson pleads guilty and States Attorney Fritz put the charge on the Stet Docket.
  • Andrew Duncanson was charged with fourth-degree burglary and theft by St. Mary’s Deputy S. Lefave on Nov. 30, 2015.  While he was being held on no bond at the St. Mary’s County Jail, with the representation of a free attorney provided by the Maryland Taxpayers, Duncanson entered a plea of not guilty but was found guilty of theft on Nov. 29, 2016, with the burglary charge dropped by Fritz. Duncanson was sentenced to one year in jail, two years of probation and ordered to pay restitution of $298.

CROCODILE TEARS?

Following his alleged dealing of a fatal dose of Fentanyl to his friend Christian Ellis – who clearly was simply expecting a high, not a ticket to his own funeral – Andrew Duncanson then posted on his Facebook page an appeal for others to support raising funds to help provide funeral costs.  Duncanson also posted a comment on his Facebook page expressing shock and surprise at the death of the man to whom he allegedly sold the fatal dose of Fentanyl.  

Duncanson failed to pony up for his friend’s funeral fundraiser…

Andrew-Duncanson-charged-with-Depraved-Heart-Murder-of-Christian-Ellis

The sinister Facebook post may have been intended by Duncanson to position himself among the mourners, instead of the new role he now plays – the accused killer.

Of the twenty-five persons who donated to the effort, raising $1,790 out of a goal of $15,000, Duncanson’s name is not among the donors of The Christian Ellis Funeral Fund.

This message was posted with this appeal for funeral funds:

“It is with heavy hearts that we mourn the loss of a life taken too soon. Christian passed unexpectedly over the weekend, leaving behind family and friends who cared for him deeply. It has warmed our hearts to hear all of the good memories many of you have shared with Christian. He truly touched the lives of everyone around him. Stories of him helping those in their time of need are a testament to the genuinely loving and caring heart Christian had. There was a love for life in his soul that could light up a room. His infectious smile is an image we hold dear to our hearts. Please help his memory live on and his family lay to rest a man who was taken from this world far too soon. Any and all contributions would be greatly appreciated.”

Organizer, Alisa Windsor, Leonardtown, MD

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