Apple Store Employees Ignored Cries for Help as Murder Took Place Next Door

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Posted January 31, 2012 at 4:50pm by Shalom Levytam

Montgomery County Circuit Judge Robert Greenberg had angry words for Apple Store employees who ignored cries for help as a murder took place in the store next door, reports ifoAppleStore.

Brittany Norwood, an employee of Lululemon, was caught stealing a pair of yoga pants after-hours by co-worker Jayna Murray. She then attacked Murray inflicting at least 330 wounds with various objects.

Bethesda Row Apple Store employees heard the attack taking place next door. In testimony during the trial, manager Jana Svrzo admitted that they heard someone screaming, "Oh, god, please help me." However, none of the employees including Svrzo inquired next door or called the police.

In an effort to cover up her crime, Norwood tied herself up, wounded herself slightly, and told police that two men had robbed the store and killed Murray.

Greenberg sentenced Norwood to life in prison without parole calling her "cold-blooded... brutal... calculated... deliberate... devious... malicious."

During his sentencing speech, Greenberg said, "The callous indifference of those Apple store employees. They did not do a blessed thing."

Neither Apple nor the Bethesda Row Apple Store has offered an apology or sympathies to the victim's family.

[via iPhoneSavior]

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Ivan - February 1, 2012 at 2:58am

I agree with every one here that this is shocking to say the least, but how come this became all about apple some how? How about the stores to the other side, or across the street, did no one hear anything there? I don't know why the apple employees didn't respond to the screams. It is very strange indeed. I wasn't there so I can't say what happened for sure, but I think that the employees were closing up, in a rush, thinking omg what is that screaming, ahh who cares its probably nothing, I am not saying I would react this way, but its definitely possible. In our society we have so many violent movies and video games, that hearing things like that almost becomes normal. The truth is, we all need a reality check once in a while. I pray that nothing like that ever happens again, and that the most people learn from this, that sometimes horrible things happen in real life too.

Geoff - January 31, 2012 at 7:07pm

BFD

RayBob - January 31, 2012 at 6:52pm

No shocking to me... just wowing! In these critical last times, men will be lovers of themsleves, lovers of money... without any natural affection...! Killed over a youga pants... 300 plus wounds... Apple employees heard and did nothing... not cool at all. I wonder who made the call or did they find the store that way next morning when everyone showed up for work?

Prince - January 31, 2012 at 7:41pm

I agree 100% it's so sad that murder has become so common (amoungst us regular folks that is). If these are not the last days, I don't wanna know what it'll be like 20 years from now!( especially in poor communities) America needs an intervention on multiple fronts!!

Buggsy2 - January 31, 2012 at 6:19pm

Apple employees indifferent to the suffering of othersâ¦that sounds familiar. They learned from the Master.

Russell - February 1, 2012 at 6:24am

So true Buggsy2!!

JP - January 31, 2012 at 5:18pm

The article says the incident occurred after hours, the mall would have been empty and quiet without passers by. In theory someone must have heard the screams or they would not have been able to quote them. Very unfortunate, thoughts and prayers go out to the family.

Josh - January 31, 2012 at 5:07pm

i agree. it's not like the walls are paper thin. did they put any employee's on the stand and actually ask them if they heard the screams? it sounds like they were just looking to attack someone for not doing anything. who says there wasn't people walking by that heard and did nothing? just trying to make a bigger headline..

iClarified - January 31, 2012 at 5:25pm

Article has been updated to make it clear that employees admitted to hearing cries for help during trial testimony.

Josh - January 31, 2012 at 5:26pm

hm. well then that was stupid on the employee's part. #fail

Joe - January 31, 2012 at 5:53pm

If that's the case, then the manager should be charged with negligence. It's his responsibility to lead those people in always doing the right thing. He apparently missed that memo...

Josh - January 31, 2012 at 5:54pm

He'll probably end up fired all of the sudden.

RayBob - January 31, 2012 at 10:07pm

The statements did say 'after hours'! So at the every least, I am expecting to hear something... if it was prime time, then fine - it may be understandable no one hearing. And I am guessing that if was after hours for the Apple store, it might have been for other stores too, so the likely hood of someone hearing something goes up by that much. Plus, if you have ever heard someone scream help for dear life - especially a female... a sound proof room is almost useless!