Man Who Strangled Elderly Neighbors Sentenced

COLUMBIA, MD — The neighbor of an elderly couple who were attacked in their home has been sentenced in their deaths.

On Nov. 2, 2024, around 7:11 p.m., Howard County police officers were called to a home located in the 5000 block of Dry Well Court in Columbia for a report of a shooting. The investigation indicated that 42-year-old Benjamin Sungjin of Columbia, also known as Benjamin Uhrmacher, had forced his way into the couple's home and attacked them, according to the police department.

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Sungjin reportedly broke into the couple's home after they couldn't give him a ride to work and he became angry. They had been neighbors for years, police learned.

According to the investigation, Sungjin attacked his 83-year-old female neighbor, knocking her to the ground and attempting to strangle her with a zip tie while wearing a makeshift ski mask. She sustained severe injuries, including a broken hip that required multiple surgeries, hospitalization, rehabilitation and ongoing physical therapy.

When her 85-year-old husband tried to intervene, Sungjin attacked him as well, placing his hands around his neck and pursuing him into a bedroom. The man fired his revolver in self-defense, hitting Sungjin in the leg after repeatedly warning him to stop. Sungjin then fled the residence before being found by police hiding under a bed inside his home nearby.

Sungjin pleaded guilty Jan. 8 to attempted first-degree murder and second-degree assault. On May 6, Sungjin was sentenced to life in prison with all but 50 years suspended for attempted first-degree murder, as well as a consecutive 10-year sentenced for second-degree assault, for a total aggregate sentence of life, suspend all but 60 years to serve.

After his release, Sungjin will be placed on five years of supervised probation. He also was ordered to undergo mental health and substance use disorder treatment, have no contact with the victims, stay away from the victims’ residence and pay restitution.