BEL AIR, Md. (TCD) — A 24-year-old man stands accused of stabbing an elderly woman to death during a dispute and assaulting her juvenile granddaughter, who reportedly tried to intervene.
According to a news release from the Bel Air Police Department, on Thursday, Feb. 22, shortly after 2:40 p.m., officers responded to a report of an assault at a home in the 700 block of Bedford Road. At the scene, officers found 73-year-old Mary Bland with apparent stab wounds. They also located a juvenile female, described by WBAL-TV as Bland’s 17-year-old granddaughter, who had been assaulted and sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
Bland and the juvenile were transported to a hospital, where Bland was pronounced dead.
Bel Air Police Chief Charles Moore reportedly said, “There was some type of argument, which escalated, and it sounds like the victim tried to intervene, and that’s Ms. Bland, and that resulted in the assault.”
Police identified Angelo Spencer as the primary suspect in the alleged attack and said he was known to the family.
According to a statement obtained by WBAL, Moore added, “We know that it was him inside the residence. He was identified [walking] away from the residence.”
In total, Bland reportedly suffered at least 25 stab wounds.
Court records reviewed by WBAL allege Spencer purchased a glass cutter and a pocket knife from Home Depot before the deadly stabbing. He allegedly tried to break into Bland’s home before ringing the doorbell and forcing his way into the residence.
Bland reportedly yelled at Spencer, and he then stabbed her in the shoulder. According to WBAL, Spencer said he repeatedly stabbed Bland, but he denied that he sexually assaulted Bland’s granddaughter. However, he admitted to grabbing her neck, WBAL reports.
Officers arrested Spencer within 90 minutes of the original 911 call. He faces charges of first-degree murder, two counts of first-degree assault, and first-degree rape, police said in an updated release.
Before her death, Bland reportedly worked as a nurse, a friend told WBAL.
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