Police Officer Charged In Murder Of Teen Stepson After Autopsy Reveals Asphyxiation

A Baltimore police officer has been charged with murder after his 15-year-old stepson’s body was found hidden in the officer’s attic.

The officer, identified as Eric Banks Jr. was charged with murder on Tuesday, July 13, for the death of the teen, Dasan Jones, after a medical examiner’s office found that the death was a homicide by asphyxiation.

On July 6, officers from the Anne Arundel County Police Department responded to the accused officer’s home after being alerted about a child custody dispute.

Jones's mother was at the location to pick up her son who had been with his stepfather, the police said.

Banks told the responding officers that the teen had left the home, leaving his belongings behind.

However, the officers made their way into the house and found the teen’s unresponsive body in an attic crawl space. He was later pronounced dead.

According to the charging documents obtained by WJZ, the teen had injuries to his neck, face, and mouth. Investigators also found the teen’s bloody clothes in a dresser drawer.

Police said that Banks became combative with a responding officer and tried to grab the officer’s gun.

"During this altercation with police, Mr. Banks said, and I quote, 'My life is over. Choke me. Choke me. Choke me'," said Justin Mulcahy, Anne Arundel County police spokesman.

Several other officers responded to the scene to help take Banks into custody.

Banks was initially arrested on charges of first- and second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, disarming a law officer, resisting arrest, and failure to obey a lawful order. He was charged with murder after the autopsy results revealed the death as a homicide.

Banks’ attorney Warren Brown said his client plans to plead not guilty.

"My client adamantly denies being involved in the death of DJ," the defense attorney said.

Banks has been working with the Baltimore Police Department since 2018. He was "actively suspended without pay," Chief Amal Awad of the Anne Arundel County Police Department said at a news conference on Wednesday.

"The alleged actions of Officer Banks are not only deplorable but shocking to the conscience," Commissioner Michael S. Harrison of the Baltimore police said.

"Our department will continue to work closely with the Anne Arundel County Police Department during this ongoing investigation."