Baltimore Man Accused of Fatally Strangling 2 Women Set for Trial in May 2022

By Alyssia Davis [former] - November 18, 2021
Court | Daily Stories | Suspects | Victims |

After more than two months of plea negotiations, a Baltimore man accused of a double homicide rejected the prosecution’s plea offer before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa M. Phinn on Nov. 18. 

Christopher Tyson, 22, is charged with first-degree murder in connection to the deaths of 21-year-old Denita Barrett and 37-year-old Ashley Lambert on March 28.

On Thursday, Judge Phinn listened as the prosecution presented a plea of two life sentences for first-degree murder to run concurrently. 

Tyson and his defense attorney, Maureen O’Leary, rejected the plea offer. In addition, Tyson waived his Hick’s date, which is his right to be tried within 180 days of his first court appearance. 

According to the Baltimore Sun, on March 22 at approximately 12:44 a.m., Baltimore Police Department officers were flagged down by a family member of the victim on the 2400 block of Annapolis in the Westport neighborhood. Officers found Barrett dead in her home, and medics pronounced her dead at the scene. 

Police later revealed that Barrett’s cause of death was from asphyxiation. Police also added that Tyson strangled Lambert just six days after Barrett. Lambert was found dead at the Deluxe Plaza Motel in a room on the 6400 block of Pulaski Highway. 

While investigating Lambert’s death, police reviewed surveillance camera footage from the motel and saw Lambert with an unidentified man. Tracking the man’s movement, police were able to locate him at a nearby store and identified him from his Visa card purchase.  

Tyson’s trial has been scheduled for May 10, 2022, with Judge Phillip S. Jackson presiding.