MD Man Convicted Of First Degree Murder In 2014 Stabbing Death of Tracy Womack In DC

WASHINGTON, DC — A jury found 42-year-old Mark Bowser of Capitol Heights, Maryland guilty of first degree murder while armed on Wednesday in the 2014 stabbing death of Tracy Womack in her Benning Road apartment, according to a release.

Bowser had entered Womack's unlocked apartment in the 4600 block of Benning Road, Northeast around 1:30 a.m., on Sept. 20, 2014. He then went to Womack's bedroom, where he found her asleep, and closed the door behind him.

One of Womack's two friends who were also in the apartment tried to open the bedroom door, but after failing to do so, they left to get help, according to police.

When Bowser emerged from the bedroom, Womack was suffering from47 cuts and stab wounds to her face, neck, torso, arms, and hands, according to court documents. Her pants and underwear were also pulled down to her thighs. Before leaving the apartment Bowser lunged with a knife at a second victim who had come back to the apartment.

Womack was taken to the hospital, but later died from her injuries. Police took Bowser into custody the next day and charged in him in connection with Womack's death.

In addition to the guilty verdict on first degree murder while armed, Bowser was also found guilty of assault with a dangerous weapon and a related weapons charge for the knife he used in the attack on the second victim, according to a release.

Bowser was also found guilty on two counts of obstructing justice. While awaiting his trial, police say Bowser sent a letter asking someone to locate two witnesses in his case. The letter included diagrams showing where the witnesses lived. The mailroom at the District of Columbia Department of Corrections stopped the letter after noting a discrepancy on the envelope, so the letter with instructions to tamper with two witnesses was never delivered, according to court documents.

Bowser is scheduled to return to court on June 10 for sentencing. He faces a minimum sentence of 30 years on the murder conviction alone.