A suspect has been arrested in the killing of 69-year-old Evelyn Player who was found dead inside Southern Baptist Church in East Baltimore on November 16, 2021. The news of the arrest came on Wednesday, December 1, 2021, the day Player was laid to rest.
Player was the church sexton as well as a longtime member. Her body was found inside a bathroom, where she had been stabbed to death. Player arrived at the church around 6 a.m. in order to pray—something the pastor said she had been doing all week.
The arrest comes after Maryland governor Larry Hogan called the search for Player’s killer an “all-hands-on-deck effort” directing state law enforcement agencies to assist the Baltimore local police department in its investigation. Hogan also issued a $100,000 reward for any information that could lead to the arrest of whoever is responsible for Player’s murder.
In a statement, Police Commissioner Michael Harrison said, “I am grateful for the exhaustive investigative work of the members of the Police Department in collaboration with the State’s Attorney’s Office in identifying the perpetrator of this crime. They have been working around the clock to solve this murder. Hopefully, justice can be served and we bring closure to the family.”
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Southern Baptist Church’s pastor Bishop Donte Hickman told WJZ, “I am elated to hear on the evening of Evelyn Player’s Homegoing Celebration that a suspect has been apprehended.”
“We have been praying for justice. She did not deserve to be taken from us after giving a life of faithful service. We know that she is at peace, and, prayerfully, her family, our church and community can find peace through justice,” Hickman said.
53-year-old Kimkur Lee made the news after he devoted his time to stand guard outside of the church to ensure other church members and workers would feel safe while they were there.
Lee shared that Player was his “church mother” and said, “Church is supposed to be sacred. For somebody to come into a church and take a life, that’s a very evil.”
