Jurors convicted Reginald English in August; the judge imposed a term mirroring the victim’s age after prosecutors cited 47 stab wounds and a dispute over a Toyota Camry.
BLADENSBURG, Md. — A Prince George’s County judge on Dec. 12 sentenced Reginald English, 53, to 72 years in prison for murdering his mother, 72-year-old Lorena Royster, inside her Bladensburg home, a case prosecutors said grew from a fight over the use and title of her Toyota Camry.
The punishment followed English’s August conviction for first-degree murder in a trial that laid out a brutal killing and a rift within the family over a modest sedan. Prosecutors argued English repeatedly stabbed his mother and left her with a handcuff around one wrist, evidence they said showed control and cruelty. The sentence — life with all but 72 years suspended — matched Royster’s age, a detail supporters said would force English to confront the number every day he remains behind bars. Defense attorneys did not immediately announce plans for appeal.
Royster was found dead in 2024 inside her brick duplex off 55th Avenue, a few blocks from the Bladensburg Waterfront Park. Detectives testified that she suffered 47 stab wounds and blunt-force injuries. During sentencing, a prosecutor said the violence followed arguments about English using his mother’s Camry and, later, about the title to the car while he sat in jail. “This was about power and entitlement,” the prosecutor told the court. Royster’s relatives described her as a steady presence in the neighborhood who had worked for years and doted on grandchildren.
Investigators said early leads pointed to English after relatives reported escalating disputes and after officers documented signs of forced movement inside the living room and kitchen. Crime-scene technicians recovered a broken handcuff, blood traces on flooring and a knife consistent with the wounds, according to trial testimony. Cell phone records placed English near the home around the time Royster was last heard from, and detectives said he made calls about vehicle paperwork in the days after. Jurors deliberated briefly before finding him guilty on Aug. 7.
At the hearing, Royster’s stepdaughter addressed the court, saying the number 72 would be “etched” in English’s memory just as the loss is etched in theirs. Friends described Royster as generous, the first to bring a casserole when someone was sick. A pastor from her church read a short statement about her volunteer work and quiet humor. English, wearing jail garb, declined to speak when invited by the judge. His attorney argued for a shorter term, saying the record showed stresses and a fractured relationship, but the court said the brutality overwhelmed any mitigation.
Public records and courtroom remarks indicate English’s conflicts over the Camry were not isolated. Prosecutors told the judge that while in custody he argued with his sister about the car’s title, underscoring, in their view, the fixation that preceded the killing. The court also heard about prior family disputes that never resulted in charges. The judge said the case stood out for its sheer violence and for the betrayal at its core: a son turning on the mother who had tried to help him, then leaving her to be found by relatives and police.
The case reverberated in Prince George’s County, where advocates for older residents said Royster’s death highlighted the risks of intra-family violence that can begin with money, housing or transportation. County leaders noted that neighbors had known Royster for years from church, school pickups and grocery runs. Prosecutors said they consulted with victim advocates before recommending the symbolic sentence and emphasized that no plea agreement was offered after English rejected responsibility and went to trial.
Legally, English’s sentence is structured as life with all but 72 years suspended, followed by supervision if he is ever released. He received credit for time served since his 2024 arrest. The defense can file a notice of appeal and may seek a new-trial motion on evidentiary grounds, standard steps after a murder conviction. The state said it considers the matter closed aside from routine post-sentencing filings. A memorial service for Royster was previously held at her church; family members said they plan to gather again privately during the holidays.
As of Tuesday, English remained in state custody awaiting transfer to a Maryland correctional facility to begin serving his term. Court clerks said the written judgment would be processed in the coming days, with appellate deadlines to follow under state rules.
Author note: Last updated December 17, 2025.