Nationwide — Reginald English, a 53-year-old man from Prince George’s County, Maryland, was sentenced to 72 years in prison for killing his 72-year-old mother, Lorena Royster, after an argument over her car. The judge imposed a life sentence but suspended all except the years matching her age.
According to NBC Washington, the victim was found dead inside her Bladensburg home last year. Investigators said she had a handcuff around one wrist and suffered 47 stab wounds, indicating a prolonged and violent attack.
Prosecutors said the killing happened during a dispute over Royster’s Toyota Camry. They told the court that English remained focused on the car even after his arrest.
“The defendant called his sister and got into an argument over the title of the car,” the prosecutor said, describing a jailhouse phone call that echoed the same dispute.
English was convicted last summer. On Friday, a Prince George’s County judge approved the state’s sentencing request and ordered that English serve 72 years in prison.
“For me, 72 years is going to forever be etched in his brain,” said Royster’s stepdaughter, Audrey Lawrence. “I don’t care where he goes until the day he leaves this earth, and even when he’s in the ground, he’s probably going to remember 72.”
English did not speak in court and showed no visible reaction to the sentence. Family members said the ruling brought some sense of justice, though the pain remains.
“She was a pillar in our family, as well,” niece Tracie Quander said. “Her dedication to family and to making sure that people around her are OK is unmeasurable.” Her loved ones said she was a caregiver who supported everyone around her, and her absence continues to be felt.