A 36-year-old man accused of the brutal beating and eventual death of Robert Horstman is expected to return to Baltimore City Circuit Court’s mental health court on Aug. 12, following the judge’s decision to grant a two-week extension for further mental competency evaluation.
On July 29, Judge Gale E. Rasin agreed to the extension because “new information” required review before the judge will rule on Deluntae Boyd’s competency for trial. The details were not discussed during the proceeding.
In order to stand trial, a defendant must be able to understand the charges against him and be able to help his attorney mount a defense.
Neither the prosecutor nor Boyd’s attorney, Andre Mahasa, objected to the postponement.
According to Baltimore Witness data, Wednesday’s proceeding marked Boyd’s fifth postponement since March 2025. The Maryland Judiciary website states Mahasa initially filed a motion for a mental competency evaluation this past February, which was ordered approximately one month later.
In late-April, Judge Rasin received a letter from the Maryland Department of Health stating that Boyd was evaluated in March. However, the court granted a 30-day extension for an evaluation from a mental health specialist to determine whether the defendant suffered from any mental illnesses and cognitive disabilities.
Another competency evaluation was also order after concerns of intellectual impairment and mental illnesses.
On April 17, 2024, Horstman was eating outside the Checkers fast-food restaurant on 5300 Moravia Road. Approximately 15 minutes later, another man attempted to order food at the drive-thru window but was denied because the restaurant was closing and no longer taking orders. Court documents state the man — later identified as Boyd — then walked over to Horstman and “snatched food from his table.”
Recovered video footage shows Horstman confront Boyd, who assumed a fighting position, followed by a brief argument. The victim began yelling at the defendant when the latter started to walk away with the food. Moments later, Boyd turned around and allegedly pushed Horstman to the ground, causing him to hit his head on the table. Boyd then reportedly punched Horstman in the face twice and stomped on the victim’s head eight times.
Court documents state that Horstman “quickly lost consciousness and appeared defenseless for the majority of the assault.” Baltimore Police arrested Boyd on the 4400 block of Parkside Drive the next day.
Horstman received treatment for brain swelling and bleeding at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, but fell into a coma. He was later admitted to hospice care and died on July 30, 2024.
The cause of death was classified as a homicide from complications of blunt force injuries.
