31-Year-Old Homicide Defendant Rejects Plea Offer

By Alyssia Davis [former] - November 15, 2021
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects | Victims |

A Baltimore man accused of murder was offered a plea before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa Copeland on Nov. 15. 

Major Kinchen, 31, is charged with first-degree murder, use of a firearm in a violent crime, and possession of a firearm in a felony crime in connection to an incident on Jan. 19. 

Judge Copeland listened as the prosecution presented a plea of life for first-degree murder. 

Kinchen and his defense attorney, Matthew Connell, rejected the plea. In addition, Kinchen decided to maintain his Hick’s date, which is his right to be tried within 180 days of his first court appearance. 

According to the Fox45 News, on Jan. 19, officers responded to reports of gunshots on the 3100 block of Swann Road at approximately 8:08 p.m. On arrival, officers found the body of 30-year-old Breonna Rogers. 

Police believe that the victim was murdered in her car by her boyfriend, later identified as Kinchen. Her body was found wrapped in a blanket on the ground with visible blood on her hands, and she had been fatally shot in her upper body. 

It was determined by investigators that Kinchen and Rogers lived in the same apartment on Liberty Heights Avenue, where she was last seen. Detectives found what they suspected to be blood outside the lobby of the apartment complex and found Kinchen in the apartment with a .40-caliber handgun and the victim’s car keys. 

In addition, there is video footage allegedly showing Kinchen leaving the apartment complex with the victim in her car and then returning without her in the car.

Kinchen’s trial is scheduled for May 6, 2022, with Judge Gregory Sampson presiding.