Son-in-law criticized ‘dirty courts’ before killing Timonium attorney, prosecutors allege

A man railed against what he described as “dirty courts” and remarked to a friend that he might as well live in a jail cell before fatally shooting his father-in-law in Baltimore County, prosecutors alleged Tuesday.

Assistant State’s Attorney Michael Fuller revealed those details during a court hearing as he argued Mark Ryan should continue to be held without bail in the killing of Robert MacMeekin, 74, an attorney at Fine, Kelly & MacMeekin in Timonium.

On May 2, MacMeekin helped his daughter, Alexandra, obtain an interim protective order against Ryan, her husband. A hearing was scheduled for the following Monday.

Less than five hours later, Ryan drove to his father-in-law’s home in the Millgate community of Phoenix, walked around to an enclosed back patio, and shot MacMeekin in the neck, Fuller said.

The shooting, he added, happened in front of Ryan’s two children, ages 2 and 5.

On Tuesday, Baltimore County Circuit Judge James Rhodes declined to release Ryan, 41, of Bel Air, to home detention while he awaits trial on charges of first-degree murder, home invasion, use of a handgun during the commission of a crime of violence, and related offenses.

“I don’t find that there are any less onerous means that I can ensure his appearance at trial and protect the public,” Rhodes said.

Prosecutors said they intend to seek life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Marshall Henslee, one of Ryan’s attorneys, argued his client posed neither a flight risk nor a danger to the community.

Henslee said Ryan was born and raised in Maryland and graduated in 2003 from Loyola Blakefield. He earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Elon University in 2007 and most recently worked at Travelers.

Ryan went to the home to get his children back, Henslee said. The attorney noted that his client dropped the gun and waited for Baltimore County Police to arrive after the shooting.

“There is no doubt it was a just a very isolated incident,” said Henslee, who added that Ryan disputes that he intentionally shot MacMeekin. “Emotions were running high that day.”

Ryan is being held in the Baltimore County Detention Center and is set to appear in court on July 17.