Arrest Made In 4-Decade-Old Murder Of PG County Woman: Police

CHARLES COUNTY, MD — After more than four decades, authorities have made an arrest in the murder of Vickie Lynn Belk, a Prince George's County woman who was found dead after she didn't return home to her Suitland apartment.

Belk was found dead of a gunshot wound on Aug. 29, 1979, in a wooded area in Bryans Road. She was reported missing by her boyfriend a day earlier, according to the Charles County Sheriff's Office.

The case eventually went cold, but investigators continued to pursue leads and re-examine evidence as technology advanced, authorities said. Finally, a DNA test conducted in 2022 produced a match.

The Charles County Sheriff's Office arrested Andre Taylor, 62, of Washington, D.C., on June 22 after authorities determined his DNA matched that found on Belk's clothing. Taylor, who was 18 at the time of Belk's murder, lived less than four miles from where Belk's body was found, authorities said.

"This case occurred more than four decades ago, and yet the detectives and forensics personnel never gave up. They continuously sought ways to identify a suspect," Charles County Sheriff Troy Berry said Thursday. "This arrest serves as a reminder of our commitment to doing everything we can to solve crimes. We never give up. We never stop seeking justice for victims."

Detectives began investigating Taylor's background after receiving confirmation of a DNA match. They learned he was a previously convicted violent offender in Washington, D.C. Arrest records from the 1980s showed he lived in Bryans Road at the time of Belk's murder.

Authorities said there was no evidence Taylor and Belk knew each other.

Detectives worked with multiple agencies to locate Taylor, authorities said. On June 16, he was indicted on charges of first-degree murder, first-degree rape and second-degree rape. Taylor waived extradition on June 27 Taylor waived extradition and was taken to Charles County Detention Center, where he is being held without bond.

Belk's body was discovered near Metropolitan Church Road and Route 227 by a teenager riding a bike, police said. Her body was identified by a medical examiner a few days later.

At the time of her death, Belk was survived by her 7-year-old son, five siblings, and her parents, who have since died.

In a statement, Belk's sister, Kay Belk, thanked authorities for their "tireless efforts."

"The news of the grand jury returning an indictment for the individual responsible for Vickie's death and an arrest in her murder begins the long-awaited process of justice finally being served," Kay Belk said. "We are grateful for the tireless efforts of the Charles County Sheriff's Office detectives and the forensics personnel who never ceased seeking justice on Vickie's behalf. And we extend our thanks to the Charles County State's Attorney's Office for their commitment and prosecution of Vickie's case."

Following Belk's death, her family established the Vickie Belk Scholarship Foundation to honor her. The foundation has awarded approximately 100 scholarships to graduating seniors at Oakland Baptist Church.