Crime & Safety

Jarrett Sentenced to 30 Years for Killing Wife, Burying Her Beneath Shed

The judge described Robert Jarrett as a "monster hiding behind the softness of human skin."

Howard County Circuit Court Judge Richard S. Bernhardt sentenced Robert Jarrett to 30 years, the maximum sentence allowed under second-degree murder, for killing his wife Christine Jarrett in 1991 and burying her under a shed in his backyard.

Bernhardt described Jarrett, 59, as a "monster hiding behind the softness of human skin." He said what separated this murder from others is how "coldly calculating" Jarrett was because he had no concern "about anyone but himself."

"What occurred here is Mr. Jarrett went into his backyard, without any of his neighbors knowing, he took up the floorboards of a shed, dug up a hole, did something with the dirt, deposited the body, filled it with gravel, covered it with concrete and replace the floorboards," said Bernhardt. "He took extraordinary measures."

Christine's body was found on April 18, 2012; under Jarrett's shed in the backyard of his Elkridge home. Jarrett was convicted of second-degree murder by a jury in April of 2013.

Before the sentencing, even Jarrett's own defense attorney, George Psoras, predicted Jarrett would get the maximum sentence.

"Anything less would be a success," said Psoras. During the hearing, Psoras described Jarrett as a "functional alcoholic" and "philanderer" who made mistakes in his life, but still took care of his children.

However his sons, Bobby and Michael, now grown men, spoke about the pain they suffered from their mother's death and their father's actions. They said when they believed their mother was missing for two decades they would look for her in malls, in cars while they were driving and would glance twice at women who resembled Christine.

Bobby Jarrett, 33, in a tearful reading of his victim's impact statement, described the horror of the shed his mother was buried under, "A shed that we as children were allowed to go into not knowing that we were literally standing on our mother."

As Bobby spoke, Jarrett would glance at his family in the gallery, or look down at his hands. He had gray hair, a gray mustache and was wearing a gray jumpsuit. He invoked his right to remain silent during the hearing.

During the trial prosecutors described Jarrett as motivated by money and hatred of his wife.

"This case started with money," said senior state's attorney James Dietrich, who described how it's ending with money as well, with Jarrett attempting to fight a wrongful death suit brought against him by his two sons, Bobby and Michael Jarrett.

After the sentencing Bobby said, "I'm happy." He said he felt a sense of justice had been served.

Afterwards Psoras, who fought for a 10- to 21-year sentence, said, "The judge didn't sentence him for the crime, he sentenced him for the way she was disposed of... it shouldn't be done that way."

As Bobby left court, holding a collage of pictures of his mother, he said, "It's been a very long year and half, we're just very happy with the court and the sentence."


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