Attorney General Concludes Review of Thomas Rawls Death Investigation

On November 10, 2026, the Office of the Attorney General of Maryland announced the completion of its review of the investigative file related to the death of Thomas Rawls, which occurred on March 2, 2006. The review found insufficient evidence to warrant reopening the case for further investigation or criminal prosecution. The Office of the Attorney General stated that it concurs with the previous decision made by the State’s Attorney’s Office for Baltimore County.

Press Release: Office of the Attorney General of Maryland

Published November 10, 2026. Reproduced in full from the Office of the Attorney General of Maryland.

Office of the Attorney General Concludes OCME Audit Case Review in 2006 Death of Thomas Rawls

Finds Insufficient Evidence to Reopen Criminal Investigation

BALTIMORE, MD: The Office of the Attorney General has completed its review of the investigative file from the death of Thomas Rawls following restraint by officers from the Baltimore County Police Department on March 2, 2006, and found insufficient information to warrant opening the matter for further investigation. At the request of counsel for Mr. Rawls’ family, the Office of the Attorney General is not releasing additional details from the investigative file at this time.

This review was completed pursuant to an executive order requiring a review of 41 restraint-related deaths occurring between 2003 and 2019 that independent medical examiners determined should have been classified as homicides. Prior to this audit by independent medical examiners, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) had not classified these cases as homicides. Since the release of the audit’s findings in 2025, the OCME has not changed the manner or cause of death certification in any of the 41 cases.

According to the National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME), the classification of the manner of the death is not a legal conclusion. A death is classified as a homicide when it results from a volitional act committed by another person. The classification does not by itself establish criminal intent or criminal culpability, which are determinations made through the legal process.

A team of experienced prosecutors and investigators from the Office of the Attorney General is now conducting a comprehensive review of the 41 cases from the audit. For this inquiry, prosecutors and investigators requested investigative material from State’s Attorney’s Offices, police departments, family members of the decedents, and attorneys representing the families. These materials are subject to disclosure to other parties pursuant to the Office of the Attorney General’s obligations under state law.

Today, the Office of the Attorney General announced that it has completed its review of the files from Thomas Rawls’ death. This review considered files from law enforcement authorities and the OCME. As noted above, at the request of counsel for the family, this release does not include a summary of the investigative file. On March 3, 2006, the OCME performed an autopsy on Mr. Rawls and ruled that the manner of death was Undetermined. The State’s Attorney’s Office for Baltimore County declined to pursue criminal charges arising out of the death of Mr. Rawls. Almost twenty years later, pursuant to a state audit, independent medical examiners reviewed the findings of the OCME and determined that the manner of death for Mr. Rawls should have been “Homicide.” As of this date, the OCME has not changed the original certification as to the manner of death or cause of death for Mr. Rawls.

Against this backdrop, the Office of the Attorney General reviewed the investigative file for Mr. Rawls to see whether the evidence warranted further action by state authorities. This review by the Office of the Attorney General found insufficient evidence to prove criminal culpability beyond a reasonable doubt. The Office of the Attorney General accordingly concurs with the decision made by the State’s Attorney’s Office for Baltimore County.

Upon completing its review of the available investigatory materials, the Office of the Attorney General found that there was insufficient evidence to reopen the matter of Thomas Rawls for further investigation or for criminal prosecution. The Office of the Attorney General will provide the decedent’s family with an opportunity to review materials in the investigative file.