Man Found Not Guilty In Davidsonville Woman's Drug-Related Murder

DAVIDSONVILLE, MD — An Anne Arundel County judge has decided that a man accused of fatally stabbing a Davidsonville businesswoman, who lead a double life selling drugs, is not guilty of murder. Terrence Robert Proctor, 40, of the 4100 block of Oliver Street in Hyattsville was acquitted Tuesday in the death of 37-year-old Nicole C. Burgess.

The slain woman ran a linens business. But Anne Arundel County authorities claim she brought in nearly a quarter of a million dollars a month illegally by selling marijuana for Proctor. The Hyattsville man was charged with stabbing her two dozen times; her pitbull dog was also found stabbed to death at the scene.

Prosecutors say that DNA and text messages led to the arrest of Proctor, whose trial began last week in Annapolis. His attorneys argued prosecutors had no solid evidence placing Proctor at the murder scene. Shoeprints at Burgess' home didn't match Proctor's shoes, his lawyers said, and Burgess placed herself at risk with lots of cash and drugs stashed in her home.

Anne Arundel Circuit Court Judge Michele Jaklitsch acquitted Proctor, who chose to have a judge hear the case rather than have a jury trial.

State's Attorney Wes Adams said in a statement, "While I am disappointed by the decision by Judge Jaklisch that found Terrence Porter not guilty of the charge of first-degree murder, I respect and accept her verdict. This case hinged on circumstantial evidence that, though we believed was sufficient, was not enough in this particular case to satisfy the high burden of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. My office presented all the evidence we had available to us and my prosecutors did an outstanding job with the evidence they had."

Police spokesman Lt. Ryan Frashure told the Capital-Gazette the department remains confident in the arrest of Proctor and the case is closed.

Authorities say Burgess and Proctor had formed a business relationship to distribute and sell drugs shortly before her death. There is nothing to suggest the relationship was intimate or personal. An Anne Arundel County grand jury indicted Proctor Sept. 26, 2014, on charges of first-degree murder, second-degree murder, and manslaughter.

Proctor's fingerprints were not found near the body, and Proctor's attorneys disputed the police notion that he killed Burgess to steal her drug money, reports The Capital-Gazette. Prosecutors say he stole 7 pounds of marijuana Burgess had in her home, which was valued at $28,000.

»PHOTO: Terrence Robert Proctor of Hyattsville is charged with murder. Credit: Anne Arundel County Police