Beltsville Realtor killed in Bowie

Thursday, May 31, 2007

Beltsville Realtor killed in Bowie

by Daniel Valentine | Staff Writer

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County police believe a Realtor may have been trying to sell a Bowie home when he was shot twice and left in the basement as the suspect or suspects stole his Honda Accord.

A builder found the body of Samuel D’Costa, 36, of Beltsville early Friday afternoon in the basement of a vacant home off 9th Street in Old Town Bowie, police said. He had been missing for 24 hours.

Lucia Trishna D’Costa, the victim’s wife, said Tuesday that she last heard from her husband on May 24, when he said he was going to show a home to a potential buyer. The family reported him missing later that afternoon.

Hours later, his car was found on fire off Daisy Lane in Glenn Dale, about four miles away from the site of the murder. Police later linked the vehicle to the victim.

A father of two, D’Costa moved to the United States from Bangladesh 20 years ago, his wife said. Before he started working in real estate, he owned and operated two stores: a 7-Eleven in Silver Spring and a Jerry Subs & Pizza in Jessup.

‘‘He was a very vibrant man,” said his wife, who said he was the youngest of nine siblings. ‘‘He was kind-hearted and helpful. He took care of everyone.”

Though he worked independently selling real estate in northern Prince George’s County, D’Costa contracted with the RE⁄MAX Sails brokerage in College Park. Broker and office manager Larry Jarboe this week called the crime ‘‘senseless and tragic.”

‘‘In my 20 years here, Iíve seen a lot and heard a lot,” Jarboe said. ‘‘But this, I was shocked. It’s an unbelievably tragic day. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.”

Police said they are looking for suspects, who they believe were in Old Town Bowie on May 24, and were on Daisy Lane in Glenn Dale sometime before 4 p.m. when the car was found.

‘‘We hope someone may have seen when the car was dropped off, or if anybody can think back to remember if they saw anyone or heard anything in the area, we’d like to hear from them,” said Cpl. Clinton Copeland, a county police spokesman.

D’Costa’s body was taken to the Maryland Medical Examiner’s office in Baltimore for an autopsy. The investigation is continuing, Copeland said.

Investigators are asking anyone who may have information about the crime to call the county homicide unit at 301-772-4925 or to anonymously report information by calling 1-866-411-TIPS. County police offer rewards of up to $25,000 for information that leads to an arrest and indictment.

E-mail Daniel Valentine at dvalentine@gazette.net.