WILLIAM PRUITT PLEADS GUILTY OF THE MURDER OF DEQUAN FIELDS IN SOMERSET COUNTY

Somerset County, MD - A chilling culmination of events came to light on October 28, 2024, when William Pruitt pleaded guilty to the first-degree murder of 27-year-old Dequan Fields. Judge Daniel Powell handed down a life sentence in the Maryland Division of Corrections, concluding a case gripping the local community for nearly 2 years.

Dequan Fields, a resident of Princess Anne, Maryland, went missing on January 12, 2023. His family raised an alarm after their numerous attempts to reach him were unanswered. The discovery of Field's gold Dodge Durango at the Deal Island Wildlife Nature Preserve soon after his disappearance fuelled the growing concern.

The Maryland State Police Forensic Sciences Division, employing their scientific expertise, located blood inside the vehicle, the DNA of which matched Fields.

During the investigation, surveillance video footage revealed Field's Durango in various locations on the day he vanished, including Salisbury, Princess Anne, Westover, Marion Station, and Deal Island Road. Cpl. Daniel Townsend of the Criminal Enforcement Division thoroughly analyzed phone records, revealing a disturbing pattern.

Contact between a phone number associated with Pruitt and Dequan Fields was recorded the night before and the morning of Fields's disappearance. Further analysis of cell tower data identified the shared trajectory of these phones on the morning Fields went missing.

The arrest of Pruitt on a different charge brought the investigation into sharp focus. In a surprising turn of events, Pruitt confessed his involvement in the robbery and murder of Dequan Fields, leading investigators to the grim discovery of human remains and clothing that matched that of the last outfit Fields was seen wearing. DNA testing confirmed the remains belonged to Fields.

The prosecution of the case was spearheaded by State's Attorney Wess Garner, who commended the unwavering efforts of the Maryland State Police Criminal Enforcement Division and Homicide Unit, particularly Cpl. Daniel Townsend and Senior Tpr. Kristi Allen for their exceptional work in the investigation and prosecution of this case.