Ocean View Homicide Suspect Extradited Back To Delaware, Result Of Victim’s Autopsy Released

Ocean View – Jason R. Meredith, 38 of Hebron, MD was extradited back to Delaware on Friday, October 29, 2021. Meredith was arraigned via video phone with JP2 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on $226,000.00 cash-only bond.

An autopsy of Cheryl Beckett-Brown was performed and determined the cause and manner of death as a homicide by gunshot wound.

Original Story

The Delaware State Police are continuing to investigate a homicide that occurred early Thursday morning in the Bethany Crest Development, according to Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Gary Fournier.

Fournier said around 4:21 a.m. Thursday, October 21, 2021, troopers responded to the 35000 block of Bethany Crest for a report of a shooting. Upon arrival, it was determined that 55-year-old Cheryl Beckett-Brown, of Ocean View, was found deceased inside the home from an apparent gunshot wound.

Witness accounts at the scene were able to give a description of the suspect, who was identified as Jason R. Meredith along with his vehicle description, and a radio broadcast was given to all Delaware police agencies as well as the surrounding Maryland police agencies. Within ten minutes, a Deputy with the Wicomico County Sheriffs Office located the pickup truck driving erratically westbound on US50 in the area of Tilghman Road. The Deputy continued to follow the truck to the suspect’s residence in Hebron where he was taken into custody without incident by Wicomico County Sheriffs Office and Maryland State Police.

The investigation revealed both Cheryl Beckett-Brown and a 53-year-old female roommate were inside the residence when Meredith came to the house and began shooting into the residence, according to Fournier. An assortment of shell casings was located at the scene and it has yet to be determined what kind of gun was used to kill Beckett-Brown.

Meredith, 38 of Hebron, MD, was transported back to Wicomico County Sheriffs Office where he was arrested on an Out of State Fugitive warrant. He is being held in the Wicomico County Detention Center until he can be extradited back to Delaware where he will be charged with Murder 2nd, two counts of Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, and Reckless Endangering 1st.

An autopsy of Cheryl Beckett-Brown will be performed to determine the exact cause and manner of death said Fournier.