Bel Air Grandma Stabbed 25 Times Trying To Protect Teen From Her 24-Year-Old Ex: Report

BEL AIR, MD — Additional information has been released regarding the fatal stabbing of 73-year-old Mary Catherine Bland outside her Bel Air home Thursday around 2:42 p.m.

Bel Air police officers were called to Bland's home located in the 700 block of Bedford Road. According to WMAR, the suspect, 24-year-old Angelo Terrell Spencer of Abingdon, had been in a relationship with Bland's 17-year-old granddaughter who was present at the time of the attack.

A police report reveals that Spencer drove to Bland's home, texted her granddaughter to meet him then made noise outside the basement door to try and get her attention when she refused. Charging documents obtained by WMAR show that Spencer then drove in his vehicle to Home Depot where he purchased a pair of gloves, a glass cutter and a folding knife.

WMAR reported that he tried to break into Bland's home through the back door and when that approach didn't work, he went to the front door and rang the doorbell. Bland met him there.

“I think it was an interaction where it was, ‘You need to get out!’ That kind of thing, and he reacted in a very psychotic and disgusting way,” Bel Air Police Chief Charles Moore told WMAR. “Yes, and used a knife to stab and kill her. Likely, dozens of stab wounds.”

It was learned during a court hearing Friday that Bland was stabbed 25 times.

The 6'5, 300-pound Spencer pushed past the wounded Bland then headed upstairs and assaulted the teen before leaving the home. Spencer confessed to grabbing the 17-year-old by her neck but denied sexually assaulting her, according to the charging document cited by WBAL-TV. He was picked up sheriff’s deputies in Abingdon a short time later.

“We know that it was him inside the residence. He was identified, walked away from the residence,” Moore told WBAL.

Anthony Macre, one of Bland's neighbors, described the situation as scary.

"She was such a nice woman, Christian, church-involved, always taking care of other people and the last person who deserves something like this. Her granddaughter… I just feel so bad for the family,” Macre said. “For them to go through something like this in our small little community, it’s a nightmare. Honestly. A nightmare, but thankfully, they got him instantly, and I wish nothing, but the worst for this man.”

Dina Boebel, a neighbor, told 11 News that Bland and her husband have lived in the community for years and knew Bland.

"Cathy was a selfless nurse, selfless mom and grandmom," Boebel said.

Spencer has been charged with first-degree murder, two counts of first-degree assault and first-degree rape. It is unclear if the rape happened during the Feb. 22 incident.