The eastern part of Maryland borders the nation of Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire), separated by the Cavalla River.

Following a referendum in 1853, the colony declared its independence from the Colonization Society across the Atlantic Ocean and formed the Republic of Maryland.

It held the land along the south coast between the Grand Cess and San Pedro Rivers.

Liberian President Joseph Jenkins Roberts assisted the Marylanders, and a joint military campaign resulted in victory.

The crimes have been regarded as "Liberia's most notorious ritual killing case" due to the number of murders, the involvement of high-ranking government officials, and their subsequent public executions.