Man Accused In Wife's Fatal Shooting Faced Child Sex Charges

By DAVID DISHNEAU

Associated Press

A day after he was released on bail, a man charged with child sex abuse shot and killed his wife in their Mount Airy, Maryland, home and called 911, authorities say.

Deputies arrived to find Donna Laudick dead and Robert Glen Laudick with a gunshot wound. Authorities haven't said how he was shot but he left notes that could become evidence at his murder trial, a prosecutor said Friday.

Deputies who executed a search warrant after the incident Wednesday evening "got a handgun that is believed to have been used as well as notes left by the suspect," Frederick County State's Attorney Charlie Smith said.

He said the 911 recording and notes have not been publicly released because they are part of the continuing investigation into Donna Laudick's death.

Robert Laudick, 50, was in critical condition Friday at a Baltimore hospital. Smith said deputies are waiting for him to emerge from a coma before serving him with a warrant charging him with first-degree murder.

Frederick County Circuit Court records show that Laudick was charged in an indictment Oct. 2 with sexually abusing a minor. He was released Tuesday after posting $75,000 bail, according to the online records.

Laudick denied the charges, according an audio recording of his bail review hearing obtained by The Frederick-News Post. The newspaper reported that the alleged victim was a teenage girl.

Donna Laudick accompanied her husband to the hearing, The News-Post reported. On the recording, Assistant Public Defender Stephanie Pankiewicz argues that Robert Laudick is not a flight risk.

"In fact, his wife is here with him today, ready to take him home and try to handle the situation," Pankiewicz told the judge.

Pankiewicz didn't return calls Friday from The Associated Press.

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