Erika and Benjamin Sifrit
Encyclopedia
Erika and Benjamin Sifrit gained notoriety in 2002 for the murders of Joshua Ford, 32, and Martha "Geney" Crutchley, 51, over Memorial Day weekend in Ocean City, Maryland
. In 2003, both Sifrits were convicted of the murders. Benjamin Sifrit is currently serving 38 years at the North Branch Correctional Institution
in Cumberland, Maryland
, while Erika Sifrit is serving a life sentence plus 20 years at the Patuxent Institution
in Jessup, Maryland.
. There, the couple opened and operated a scrapbook store.
. After a night of partying together at the Seacrets nightclub, the couple went back to the Sifrit condo in Ocean City, Maryland. According to records, the Sifrits claimed that Joshua and Martha stole Erika's purse, and BJ pulled a gun on the couple. After retreating to the bathroom, Joshua Ford was shot four times to death with BJ's gun, and Martha Crutchley was later stabbed to death. The couple's remains were disposed of in a dumpster in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware
.
store. When police searched Erika Sifrit's purse, they uncovered the licenses of Joshua and Martha, who at that point had been reported missing for days. Erika confessed to murdering the couple shortly after her apprehension, but claimed the idea was her husband's.
Because of the heavy publicity of the case, the Sifrits' trials were moved out of Worcester County, Maryland
. Benjamin's trial was held in Rockville, Maryland
and Erika's was held in Frederick
.
BJ Sifrit was the first to go to trial in March 2003. At the trial, a 22 year-old woman named Melissa Seling testified, claiming how she had almost become the Sifrits' next victim. On the stand, she told jurors of the exact same ritual that Joshua and Martha endured, but was ultimately spared. On April 9, 2003, he was only convicted of second-degree murder and first-degree assault in the death of Martha Crutchley, and was acquitted of all charges in the death of Joshua Ford. He was later sentenced to 38 years in prison on July 7, 2003.
Erika Sifrit's trial started on June 3, 2003. On June 11, she was convicted of first-degree murder in the death of Joshua Ford and second-degree murder in the death of Martha Crutchley, and was later sentenced to life plus 20 years on August 14, 2003.
Both Sifrits have filed numerous appeals, all which have failed. BJ exhausted his last appeal in 2010.
In July 2009, a book entitled "Cruel Death, written by M. William Phelps
was released about the case.
Erika Sifrit will be eligible for parole in 2024. BJ Sifrit will be eligible for parole in 2021.
This case has been profiled on Snapped
, Deadly Women
and Forensic Files
.
Ocean City, Maryland
Ocean City, sometimes known as OC, or OCMD, is an Atlantic Ocean resort town in Worcester County, Maryland, United States. Ocean City is widely known in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States and is a frequent destination for vacationers in that area...
. In 2003, both Sifrits were convicted of the murders. Benjamin Sifrit is currently serving 38 years at the North Branch Correctional Institution
North Branch Correctional Institution
North Branch Correctional Institution is a high-tech, maximum security prison operated by the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services in unincorporated Allegany County, Maryland, near Cumberland. The prison houses the most serious offenders within the State of Maryland...
in Cumberland, Maryland
Cumberland, Maryland
Cumberland is a city in the far western, Appalachian portion of Maryland, United States. It is the county seat of Allegany County, and the primary city of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. At the 2010 census, the city had a population of 20,859, and the metropolitan area had a...
, while Erika Sifrit is serving a life sentence plus 20 years at the Patuxent Institution
Patuxent Institution
The Patuxent Institution is located in Jessup, Maryland one mile east of US Route 1 on Maryland Route 175. It is a treatment-oriented maximum-security correctional facility. With a maximum static capacity of 987 beds, it offers the most diverse services to the most varied male and female offender...
in Jessup, Maryland.
Early Lives
Erika Grace and BJ Sifrit married in 1998, when they were both 25 years old. She was an honors student and basketball star at Mary Washington College, and he was a former Navy SEAL. Shortly after marrying, the couple moved near Erika's hometown of Altoona, PennsylvaniaAltoona, Pennsylvania
-History:A major railroad town, Altoona was founded by the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1849 as the site for a shop complex. Altoona was incorporated as a borough on February 6, 1854, and as a city under legislation approved on April 3, 1867, and February 8, 1868...
. There, the couple opened and operated a scrapbook store.
Murders
On May 25, 2002, the Sifrits, both 24 at the time, met another couple, Joshua Ford and Martha Crutchley, a mortgage banker and insurance broker from Alexandria, VirginiaAlexandria, Virginia
Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 139,966. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C.Like the rest of northern Virginia, as well as...
. After a night of partying together at the Seacrets nightclub, the couple went back to the Sifrit condo in Ocean City, Maryland. According to records, the Sifrits claimed that Joshua and Martha stole Erika's purse, and BJ pulled a gun on the couple. After retreating to the bathroom, Joshua Ford was shot four times to death with BJ's gun, and Martha Crutchley was later stabbed to death. The couple's remains were disposed of in a dumpster in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware
Rehoboth Beach, Delaware
Rehoboth Beach is a city in Sussex County, Delaware, United States. According to the 2010 census, the population is 1,327, a decrease of 11.2% from 2000...
.
Arrests and Trials
Erika and BJ Sifrit were arrested on May 31, 2002, but not for murder: the couple were caught robbing a HootersHooters
Hooters is the trade name of two privately held American restaurant chains: Hooters of America, Incorporated, based in Atlanta, Georgia, and Hooters, Incorporated, based in Clearwater, Florida...
store. When police searched Erika Sifrit's purse, they uncovered the licenses of Joshua and Martha, who at that point had been reported missing for days. Erika confessed to murdering the couple shortly after her apprehension, but claimed the idea was her husband's.
Because of the heavy publicity of the case, the Sifrits' trials were moved out of Worcester County, Maryland
Worcester County, Maryland
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*82.0% White*13.6% Black*0.3% Native American*1.1% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*1.7% Two or more races*1.3% Other races*3.2% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
. Benjamin's trial was held in Rockville, Maryland
Rockville, Maryland
Rockville is the county seat of Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It is a major incorporated city in the central part of Montgomery County and forms part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area. The 2010 U.S...
and Erika's was held in Frederick
Frederick, Maryland
Frederick is a city in north-central Maryland. It is the county seat of Frederick County, the largest county by area in the state of Maryland. Frederick is an outlying community of the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is part of a greater...
.
BJ Sifrit was the first to go to trial in March 2003. At the trial, a 22 year-old woman named Melissa Seling testified, claiming how she had almost become the Sifrits' next victim. On the stand, she told jurors of the exact same ritual that Joshua and Martha endured, but was ultimately spared. On April 9, 2003, he was only convicted of second-degree murder and first-degree assault in the death of Martha Crutchley, and was acquitted of all charges in the death of Joshua Ford. He was later sentenced to 38 years in prison on July 7, 2003.
Erika Sifrit's trial started on June 3, 2003. On June 11, she was convicted of first-degree murder in the death of Joshua Ford and second-degree murder in the death of Martha Crutchley, and was later sentenced to life plus 20 years on August 14, 2003.
Aftermath
In March 2010, BJ filed for divorce, which was later granted in August 2010.Both Sifrits have filed numerous appeals, all which have failed. BJ exhausted his last appeal in 2010.
In July 2009, a book entitled "Cruel Death, written by M. William Phelps
M. William Phelps
M. William Phelps is an American crime writer, investigative journalist, and television personality.-Career:Phelps is the author of 14 true crime books and two books on history...
was released about the case.
Erika Sifrit will be eligible for parole in 2024. BJ Sifrit will be eligible for parole in 2021.
This case has been profiled on Snapped
Snapped
Snapped is an American true crime television series that airs on the Oxygen Network. Snapped debuted on August 6, 2004 and is produced in conjunction with Jupiter Entertainment.-Synopsis:...
, Deadly Women
Deadly Women
Deadly Women is a television series first aired in 2005 on the Discovery Channel, focusing on female killers. It was originally a mini-series consisting of three episodes: "Obsession," "Greed" and "Revenge". After a 2 year hiatus, the show resumed production in 2008 and began airing on the...
and Forensic Files
Forensic Files
Forensic Files is an American documentary-style series which reveals how forensic science is used to solve violent crimes, mysterious accidents, and even outbreaks of illness. The show is broadcast on truTV, narrated by Peter Thomas, and produced by Medstar Television, in association with truTV...
.