BALTIMORE — Two Baltimore men have been sentenced to four life terms in federal prison in connection to the murder of a woman they thought was a witness against their friend.
Latrina Ashburne, 41, was shot and killed on May 27, 2016 as she got into her car outside a home she shared with her mother on Rosalind Avenue.
Prosecutors say 40-year-old Davon Carter and Clifton Mosley, 42, conspired to kill a witness who had provided information to law enforcement regarding a criminal investigation into Carter’s friend, Matthew Hightower.
Hightower was previously indicted in a health care fraud scheme and under investigation for the murder of another victim, named David Wutoh.
In July or August 2015, Hightower found out about the witness who had incriminating information on him in both cases.
Hightower was eventually convicted and sentenced to 31 years for Wutoh's murder. While he was jailed, Carter took over Hightower's marijuana dealing operation.
At some point Carter and Mosley decided to murder the witness they believed was responsible for Hightower's conviction.
They ended up killing Ashburne who was the wrong target. The actual witness happened to be Ashburne's neighbor.
The witness ultimately reported Ashburne's death to law enforcement, claiming she was Carter and Mosley's intended target.
On May 18, 2023 federal prosecutors indicted Hightower for his role in Ashburne's murder. He too faces life in prison.
