At 10:40 pm, on 01/06, patrol officers responded to a residence in Mechanicsville for the report of 2 missing persons (Mark Travis Grove, 22 year old male of Mechanicsville, and his 4 month old infant child). Officers were unable to locate the two persons throughout the night.
On 01/07/07, Detectives from the St. Mary’s County Bureau of Criminal Investigations assumed the investigation and determined that Grove had obtained a controlled dangerous substance and gone to a field near his residence to consume the substance with the child.
Early in the morning of 01/07 detectives located Grove’s vehicle in the field near his home and a search began. When Grove saw police officers looking for him, he took his infant child who was wearing only a diaper, and fled into the woods.
Deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Patrol Division and Troopers from the Maryland State Police Leonardtown Barrack, along with K9 officers from both agencies and Trooper 7 assisted in the search for suspect Grove.
Further investigation revealed that while missing suspect Grove had burglarized a hunting shed and taken items. It was also determined that he had burglarized the same shed and taken items on two prior occasions.
Grove was subsequently apprehended and taken to the St. Mary’s County Detention Center.
Grove was charged with child abuse, reckless endangerment, three counts of burglary, and one count of theft over $500.00, one count of theft under $500.00 and hindering a police officer in the performance of his duties. The suspect is currently being held on a $15,000.00 cash bond.
The infant was immediately treated by medical personnel on the scene and was released to his mother.