Man sentenced to life in 'heinous' 2021 murder and rape of Salisbury woman
An Eastern Shore man was sentenced on Monday to life in prison without the possibility of parole, plus 73 years after being convicted for the 2021 rape and murder of a Salisbury woman.
Kenneth Evans, formerly of Delmar, Maryland, was convicted in October of first-degree murder, first degree rape, home invasion, robbery, first degree arson, according to an April 10 press release from the Office of the State's Attorney for Wicomico County. Evans was also determined to be a sexually violent predator.
During the early morning hours of May 21, 2021, Evans traveled from the Delmar area to a residential neighborhood located along Glastonbury Drive in Salisbury. He then entered the home of Helen Riggins, where he "heinously offended her over the course of hours," the State's Attorney's Office said. Riggins was bound, strangled, raped and murdered.
Evans then doused the victim and areas of the interior of the residence with gasoline and then set it ablaze just prior to fleeing on foot.
Judge S. James Sarbanes, who sentenced Evans and presided over the trial, told the courtroom that the facts of this case "constituted the worst case he has seen in his nearly ten-year tenure," and noted that Riggins' life was taken in the most brutal way possible, according to the State's Attorney's Office.
State's Attorney Jamie Dykes noted that she was grateful Judge Sarbanes took the time to talk about the legacy the victim left with her loved ones, and hoped that the horrific events that took her life would not define her memory.
“This horrific crime was solved by the community and the collaboration of many law enforcementagencies," Dykes said in a statement. "I am grateful to every citizen and law enforcement agency that participated in solving this case and assisted in our efforts to hold Kenneth Evans accountable. Because of this collaboration, our community is a safer place.”
More: Man faces murder, arson charges in Salisbury fire investigation
More: 'I didn't want to die. I wasn't ready': Teen details escape from Christiana Mall shooting
This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: Man sentenced to life in 'heinous' 2021 murder and rape of Salisbury woman
