Suspect Charged in Davidsonville Woman's Murder

More than a year after a Davidsonville woman’s death, a Hyattsville man has been charged with her murder, tied to their partnership in drug deals, say Anne Arundel County Police.

Nicole C. Burgess, 37, of 3317 Royale Glen Court in Davidsonville died March 22, 2013, of multiple stab wounds, authorities said. Her pitbull dog was also found stabbed to death at the scene.

Since the murder, homicide detectives interviewed countless witnesses and sorted through numerous pieces of evidence, the department says. Evidence from the crime scene, coupled with forensic examinations of evidence secured by search warrants, lead investigators to suspect Terrence Robert Proctor, 37, of the 4100 block of Oliver Street in Hyattsville as Burgess’ killer. Authorities won’t specify how they came to view Proctor as a suspect.

Authorities say Burgess and Proctor had recently formed a business relationship to distribute and sell drugs. There is nothing to suggest the relationship was intimate or personal.

An Anne Arundel County grand jury indicted Proctor Sept. 26 on charges of first-degree murder, second-degree murder, and manslaughter.

“The efforts of the officers, detectives, evidence collection teams, analysts, citizens, and others have brought about only a small sense of closure for families like the Burgess family, but our community is safer as a result of the work in all of these cases,” said Anne Arundel County Police Chief Kevin Davis.

The case is still under investigation, police say, and they want to talk to anyone with information who may have been afraid to come forward.

Anyone with information may call the Anne Arundel County Police Homicide Unit at 410-222-4731. They may also leave a message on the Criminal Investigation Division Tip Line at 410-222-4700. Messages left on this line are monitored 24 hours a day.

»Terrence Robert Proctor, 37, of Hyattsville is charged with murder. Credit: Anne Arundel County Police

Have a news tip? Email deb.belt@patch.com. You can also post your own news, events and announcements on Patch by following these directions. Curious about how our new commenting platform, Disqus, works? Learn more about it here and start interacting with your neighbors on Patch.