Topline: Latrina Ashburne was killed outside her home after being mistaken for the federal witness next door in a murder plot organized from jail.
Published: October 12, 2026 4:04 pm ET
Shawn Fletcher
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BALTIMORE, MD — Matthew Hightower has been sentenced to 40 years in federal prison for his role in a murder plot that targeted a federal witness but killed her next-door neighbor, Latrina Ashburne, instead.
U.S. District Judge Stephanie Gallagher imposed the sentence October 8 on Hightower, 44, of Baltimore, for using a firearm during and in relation to a violent crime, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland. The sentence includes five years of supervised release and runs concurrently, beginning October 8, with the prison term he is already serving in connection with the murder of David Wutoh.
According to court documents described by prosecutors, Hightower learned that a female federal witness had given law enforcement information about his involvement in a healthcare fraud scheme and Wutoh’s murder. He was under federal indictment in both matters.
While jailed awaiting trial, Hightower used telephone calls and letters to coordinate with others. In May 2016, he solicited help and conspired to kill the witness both to retaliate for her cooperation and to prevent her from testifying against him, prosecutors said.
Ashburne lived next door to the intended target and was similar to her in age and appearance. She was shot and killed while getting into her car outside her home.
Prosecutors identified Davon Carter, 46, of Baltimore, as the shooter and Clifton Mosley, 49, also of Baltimore, as an accomplice. Both are serving federal life sentences for their roles in the plot.
The Earlier Murder Case
Hightower’s existing sentence stems from Wutoh’s killing in September 2013. In a 2016 sentencing announcement, federal prosecutors described trial evidence showing that Hightower lent Wutoh $15,000 in exchange for a promise to repay $20,000. When Wutoh failed to repay the full amount, Hightower and co-defendant Harry Crawford threatened him.
According to that account of the trial evidence, Hightower went to the home where Wutoh was staying and fired seven shots through a window at approximately 2:45 a.m. on September 22, 2013. Wutoh was asleep on a living-room couch and suffered fatal gunshot wounds.
A federal jury convicted Hightower on September 22, 2016, after a seven-day trial. He received 380 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for collecting a debt through extortionate means and using interstate facilities for extortion resulting in death.
U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes described the Ashburne case as Hightower’s second effort to silence a federal witness. The October 8 release does not detail the other effort. The investigation involved federal health investigators, the FBI, ATF, Baltimore police and Baltimore County police; Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kim Y. Hagan and Paul E. Budlow prosecuted the case.
The new 40-year term is not an additional sentence to be served after the Wutoh-related term ends. The judge ordered the terms to run at the same time, with the new sentence beginning October 8.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Baltimore Man Gets 40 Years After Witness-Murder Plot Killed the Wrong Woman
Latrina Ashburne was killed outside her home after being mistaken for the federal witness next door in a murder plot organized from jail.
By Shawn Fletcher
Published: October 12, 2026 4:04 pm ET
BALTIMORE, MD — Matthew Hightower has been sentenced to 40 years in federal prison for his role in a murder plot that targeted a federal witness but killed her next-door neighbor, Latrina Ashburne, instead.
U.S. District Judge Stephanie Gallagher imposed the sentence October 8 on Hightower, 44, of Baltimore, for using a firearm during and in relation to a violent crime, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland. The sentence includes five years of supervised release and runs concurrently, beginning October 8, with the prison term he is already serving in connection with the murder of David Wutoh.
According to court documents described by prosecutors, Hightower learned that a female federal witness had given law enforcement information about his involvement in a healthcare fraud scheme and Wutoh’s murder. He was under federal indictment in both matters.
While jailed awaiting trial, Hightower used telephone calls and letters to coordinate with others. In May 2016, he solicited help and conspired to kill the witness both to retaliate for her cooperation and to prevent her from testifying against him, prosecutors said.
Ashburne lived next door to the intended target and was similar to her in age and appearance. She was shot and killed while getting into her car outside her home.
Prosecutors identified Davon Carter, 46, of Baltimore, as the shooter and Clifton Mosley, 49, also of Baltimore, as an accomplice. Both are serving federal life sentences for their roles in the plot.
The Earlier Murder Case
Hightower’s existing sentence stems from Wutoh’s killing in September 2013. In a 2016 sentencing announcement, federal prosecutors described trial evidence showing that Hightower lent Wutoh $15,000 in exchange for a promise to repay $20,000. When Wutoh failed to repay the full amount, Hightower and co-defendant Harry Crawford threatened him.
According to that account of the trial evidence, Hightower went to the home where Wutoh was staying and fired seven shots through a window at approximately 2:45 a.m. on September 22, 2013. Wutoh was asleep on a living-room couch and suffered fatal gunshot wounds.
A federal jury convicted Hightower on September 22, 2016, after a seven-day trial. He received 380 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for collecting a debt through extortionate means and using interstate facilities for extortion resulting in death.
U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes described the Ashburne case as Hightower’s second effort to silence a federal witness. The October 8 release does not detail the other effort. The investigation involved federal health investigators, the FBI, ATF, Baltimore police and Baltimore County police; Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kim Y. Hagan and Paul E. Budlow prosecuted the case.
The new 40-year term is not an additional sentence to be served after the Wutoh-related term ends. The judge ordered the terms to run at the same time, with the new sentence beginning October 8.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Baltimore Man Gets 40 Years After Witness-Murder Plot Killed the Wrong Woman
Latrina Ashburne was killed outside her home after being mistaken for the federal witness next door in a murder plot organized from jail.
By Shawn Fletcher
Published: October 12, 2026 4:04 pm ET
BALTIMORE, MD — Matthew Hightower has been sentenced to 40 years in federal prison for his role in a murder plot that targeted a federal witness but killed her next-door neighbor, Latrina Ashburne, instead.
U.S. District Judge Stephanie Gallagher imposed the sentence October 8 on Hightower, 44, of Baltimore, for using a firearm during and in relation to a violent crime, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland. The sentence includes five years of supervised release and runs concurrently, beginning October 8, with the prison term he is already serving in connection with the murder of David Wutoh.
According to court documents described by prosecutors, Hightower learned that a female federal witness had given law enforcement information about his involvement in a healthcare fraud scheme and Wutoh’s murder. He was under federal indictment in both matters.
While jailed awaiting trial, Hightower used telephone calls and letters to coordinate with others. In May 2016, he solicited help and conspired to kill the witness both to retaliate for her cooperation and to prevent her from testifying against him, prosecutors said.
Ashburne lived next door to the intended target and was similar to her in age and appearance. She was shot and killed while getting into her car outside her home.
Prosecutors identified Davon Carter, 46, of Baltimore, as the shooter and Clifton Mosley, 49, also of Baltimore, as an accomplice. Both are serving federal life sentences for their roles in the plot.
The Earlier Murder Case
Hightower’s existing sentence stems from Wutoh’s killing in September 2013. In a 2016 sentencing announcement, federal prosecutors described trial evidence showing that Hightower lent Wutoh $15,000 in exchange for a promise to repay $20,000. When Wutoh failed to repay the full amount, Hightower and co-defendant Harry Crawford threatened him.
According to that account of the trial evidence, Hightower went to the home where Wutoh was staying and fired seven shots through a window at approximately 2:45 a.m. on September 22, 2013. Wutoh was asleep on a living-room couch and suffered fatal gunshot wounds.
A federal jury convicted Hightower on September 22, 2016, after a seven-day trial. He received 380 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for collecting a debt through extortionate means and using interstate facilities for extortion resulting in death.
U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes described the Ashburne case as Hightower’s second effort to silence a federal witness. The October 8 release does not detail the other effort. The investigation involved federal health investigators, the FBI, ATF, Baltimore police and Baltimore County police; Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kim Y. Hagan and Paul E. Budlow prosecuted the case.
The new 40-year term is not an additional sentence to be served after the Wutoh-related term ends. The judge ordered the terms to run at the same time, with the new sentence beginning October 8.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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