Comus, Maryland – Nearly three decades ago, the community was shaken by the brutal murder of James Essel, the 57-year-old owner of Sugarloaf Mountain Market. On March 22, 1992, Essel was found dead inside his store, having suffered multiple stab wounds. This unresolved case lingered for years, but in February 2020, it took a dramatic turn when new evidence linked a suspect to the crime.
Hans Huitz, a 51-year-old man whose DNA matched samples from the original crime scene, became a primary focus of investigators. After moving to Virginia Beach in 2014, he remained on law enforcement’s radar. A search warrant was obtained to collect Huitz’s DNA, which was subsequently confirmed at a Maryland lab. With evidence mounting against him, arrest warrants were issued, prompting U.S. Marshals and local police to attempt bringing him into custody.
On February 12, 2020, officers confronted Huitz outside his home, but tensions escalated rapidly. According to official reports, as authorities tried to block his vehicle, Huitz brandished a handgun and threatened to harm himself, shifting the weapon between his mouth and his head. Officers attempted to de-escalate the situation, but the standoff ended tragically when Huitz pointed a gun at the officers, leading to a fatal response.
Colin D. Stolle, the Commonwealth’s Attorney for Virginia Beach, stated that the officers acted within their rights, concluding that the use of lethal force was justified under the circumstances. As a result, no charges will be filed against the officers involved.
The aftermath of Huitz’s death stirred complex emotions for those affected by Essel’s murder. Perpetua Edwards, Essel’s daughter, expressed mixed feelings in an interview. While she wished Huitz could have served time for his crime, she also expressed a sense of relief that some closure was finally achieved. “I can’t even imagine how someone could live with that for so many years, knowing what they did,” Edwards said.
In an emotional reflection, she noted the impact of the detectives who treated the case with the care and urgency it deserved. “To know that it’s over is a huge relief for me and my siblings,” she remarked, expressing gratitude for the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to resolve a case that had haunted her family for decades.
The case illustrates the long reach of both justice and healing, as law enforcement continued to pursue leads, despite the years that passed. For the community of Comus, the tragic saga of James Essel’s death and Hans Huitz’s demise underscores the lingering shadows of unresolved trauma and the hope for peace that can follow even the darkest chapters.