Left to right, Gary Mason and Nicole Dalrymple
Prince Frederick, MD – A district court judge ruled that probable cause exists in the case of a Calvert County couple charged in the severe beating of a Prince Frederick man in early March. The victim, Rodney Vincent Mackall, 52, died the day after the incident occurred at his residence on Sixes Road. Separate hearings for the accused—identified as Gary Sylvester Mason, 35 and Nicole Danielle Dalrymple, 27, both of Port Republic—were presided over by District Court Judge Robert Riddle Wednesday, April 1.
Both Mason and Dalrymple have been charged with attempted first-degree murder, first-and second-degree assault, armed robbery and theft less than $1,000. According to Calvert County Assistant State’s Attorney Kathryn Marsh, it will be up a grand jury to decide whether to render a charge of murder in the case. The grand jury in Calvert routinely meets the third Monday of every month. Any indictments in the case would then be considered in circuit court.
Mason was represented by the Calvert County Public Defender’s Office during his hearing while Thomas Axley served as Dalrymple’s counsel during her hearing.
In both hearings, Detective Michael Mudd of the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office Investigation Bureau was questioned by the attorneys about his investigation.
According to a police report, on March 3 Mason and Dalrymple were driven to Mackall’s residence by a man identified as Melvin Johnson. It was alleged in the report that the purpose of the couple’s visit was to purchase crack cocaine. Mason admitted to police he became furious when Mackall said “hello, beautiful” to Dalrymple. The police report stated Mason told investigators he struck Mackall several times with a mallet and his fist. Dalrymple then allegedly removed crack cocaine and a wallet from Mackall’s pockets.
Johnson subsequently picked up Mason and Mackall who left the Sixes Road location and began walking toward Route 2/4. The three were later located at a Prince Frederick hotel and brought to the sheriff’s office for questioning.
Mackall was found lying unconscious along Sixes Road around 12:40 p.m. by an unidentified person, who called 911. When deputies responded they found Mackall laying in a driveway and bleeding. Mackall was taken to Calvert Memorial Hospital, subsequently transported to University of Maryland Hospital in Baltimore and died March 4 without ever regaining consciousness.
Mudd told the court the investigation determined Mason struck Mackall “four or five times” with a rubber mallet. Although the couple had originally disposed of the mallet, they later told police the location of the disposal and the mallet was recovered.
Both Mason and Dalrymple remain incarcerated in the Calvert County Detention Center in lieu of bond.
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com
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