Son charged in mother's murder

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, Md. - A son has been charged in connection with the murder of his 72-year-old mother in Bladensburg, MD. 

Police say around 11:10 p.m. on April 3, officers responded to a home in the 4100 block of 53rd Place for a welfare check. 

Lorena Royster, 72, was found inside the apartment suffering from a stab wound in the neck. According to investigators, Royster was wearing a handcuff on her wrist.

She was pronounced dead on the scene. 

Investigators also found a pocket knife, box cutter, and screwdriver in the bedroom where she was discovered.

51-year-old Reginald English

According to charging documents, 12 hours before Royster was found dead, about forty miles east in Stevensville, Maryland, Royster's son, 51 year old Reginald English jumped into Cox Creek.

An officer saw him, convinced him to swim to shore and took him to the hospital in Anne Arundel County for treatment.

He told police he was praying on the dock and gave them a fake name. He was also wearing what appeared to be a woman's engagement ring.

On Thursday, Prince George’s County Police charged English with the murder of Royster. 

Neighbors said they were shocked and saddened to hear what happened.

"It's a quiet neighborhood, kids, people go to work. Never no problems. That's the most tragic thing I've ever heard since I've been here," said Cornel Woods, a neighbor who has lived at the Village apartments for 18 years.

"I don't know what to say about people today. When I came up, people respected their elders. Especially your mother. How could you do that to your mother? I can't put it into words but it's real sad, I tell you that," Woods added.

English lived at the home with his mother. He is facing charges of first and second degree murder in this case as the investigation continues.

FOX 5 pulled his records and found he was charged with murder, kidnapping, and a slew of offenses in Washington D.C. for a killing in January of 2023.

He was indicted in federal court in March - but in October 2023, the case was dismissed. According to court documents, that was because the surviving victim and witness in the case died.