A family crime story straight out of a nightmare has turned into a full-blown manhunt in Baltimore, where federal agents are now searching for a woman accused of storming her own grandfather’s apartment.
Investigators say 25-year-old Kyiesha Pierce and her boyfriend forced their way into her grandfather’s north Baltimore apartment on Jan. 10. Pierce is now wanted on nearly two dozen counts, including home invasion, assault, burglary, theft, and weapons offenses. Court papers say the front door frame was cracked and that several personal items were taken.
According to Fox Baltimore, U.S. Marshals Service senior inspector Al Maresca said the couple forced entry into the Cedonia Avenue residence and that “the suspect was reportedly armed with a small black semiautomatic handgun.” Court documents reviewed by the station say the victim later picked his granddaughter out of a photo array, and a warrant for Pierce’s arrest was issued the next day.
Investigators told the station the pair took the victim’s black electric scooter and a shopping cart, smashed his cell phone and then took off. Anyone with tips has been asked to contact the U.S. Marshals Service at 202-819-5058.
Federal search expands
The case is unfolding as the U.S. Marshals Service continues to lead multiple multi-agency fugitive operations across the Baltimore region to track down violent offenders and fugitives. As detailed by the U.S. Marshals Service, those task force crackdowns are designed to support local law enforcement and bring some of the region’s most wanted suspects into custody.
Why federal involvement matters
Home invasions that involve firearms, cross jurisdictions or connect to broader criminal patterns often pull in federal partners because of the scope of the investigations and the potential for federal charges. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has, in past Baltimore cases, prosecuted home invasions tied to carjackings and secured lengthy federal prison sentences. The Department of Justice has highlighted one such earlier case as an example.
Pierce is described by investigators as about 5'8" and roughly 145 pounds. Anyone with information about her whereabouts is urged to contact the U.S. Marshals Service at 202-819-5058 and to call 911 in any immediate emergency.
