Vanessa Junkin

DelmarvaNow

%22They are followers of the Insane Clown Posse%2C%22 Wicomico County Sheriff Mike Lewis said of the suspects

Edwards lit Swanson%27s arm on fire%2C charging documents state.

Lewis said the suspects felt Swanson disrespected the Insane Clown Posse.

A 31-year-old man is recovering from near-fatal injuries Wednesday while the two people law enforcement say are responsible for the crime are being held without bond.

As the result of a Monday morning assault at a home that the suspects and victim shared with others near Hebron, Maryland, a man suffered from fractures to his nasal area and face, brain bleeding, swelling around his eyes, 11 broken ribs and a liver laceration, court documents state.

His arm was also cut and burned. Wicomico County Sheriff Mike Lewis said the man's arm had to be amputated below the elbow, and Lewis said Tuesday afternoon that Swanson was in critical but stable condition at the Bayview burn unit in Baltimore.

"I can't imagine the pain that the victim went through," Lewis said of the several-hours-long assault.

On Tuesday morning, the defendants – Paul Martin Hurst, 33, and Cary Lee Edwards, 35 – saw District Court Judge L. Bruce Wade separately in bond reviews via video. Hurst and Edwards were living in the same Hebron-area home as the victim in the 7290 block of Rockawalkin Road.

Wade ordered that both Hurst and Edwards– each facing various charges including first-degree attempted murder – remain held without bond.

Assistant Public Defender Wesley Moore represented both Hurst and Edwards at their bond reviews. Moore argued for bond, saying Hurst doesn't have a history of failing to appear and he also lives locally and has his GED. He also noted Edwards was involved in driving the victim to the hospital.

In each case, he asked that a bond be set, and Assistant State's Attorney Jared Monteiro said in each case the state would oppose that.

After the short hearings, Moore said he had no comment at this point. Wicomico County State's Attorney Matt Maciarello said since charges have been filed, he is precluded ethically from speaking about the case.

The court documents say Hurst and Edwards were upset with the victim regarding his treatment of his girlfriend.

A Monday afternoon sheriff's office news release stated detectives were looking into the "strong possibility" of an affiliation with the Juggalos, a cult following of the Insane Clown Posse hip-hop duo.

On Tuesday, he said both the suspects and the victim are Juggalos.

"They are followers of the Insane Clown Posse, without question," Lewis said.

Edwards and Hurst both hit the victim, and Edwards used the handle of a yard tool and a shovel during the beating, according to Hurst's account of events, charging documents state. Edwards said Hurst was also involved in beating the man with a "stick-like weapon," according to charging documents

Edwards lit the victim's arm on fire, the documents state. Each of the suspects, according to charging documents, stated that the other suspect had gotten lighter fluid from inside.

"This burning was in an attempt to remove a tattoo that Edwards did not believe that Swanson earned," charging documents state, in relation to Hurst's account of the incident.

Edwards told Detective Tom Funk that before the burning, he and Hurst had tried to cut the tattoo from the man's arm with knives, charging documents state.

Lewis said the suspects felt the victim disrespected the Insane Clown Posse.

"To them, he had to pay the consequences," Lewis said.