Homicide Defendant’s Competency for Trial Could Be Overturned Based on Results of Independent Eval

By Andrew Michaels - October 6, 2022
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

A Baltimore City Circuit Court judge granted defense counsel’s postponement request on Oct. 6, as he and his client await the results of an independent mental health evaluation.

Major Kinchen, 32, was found competent to stand trial last month based on a Circuit Court medical evaluation. His defense attorney, Matthew Connell, argued against the report’s findings, which states that his client was not schizophrenic despite being prescribed antipsychotic medication.

Judge Gale Rasin stood by the court’s evaluation but agreed to reassess the case after Connell proceeded with an independent evaluation.

On Thursday, Connell told Judge Melissa Phinn that his client was diagnosed with schizophrenia and that the results of another competency evaluation are pending. Judge Phinn agreed to postpone the case until Nov. 7.

Kinchen is accused of shooting his then-girlfriend, Breonna Rogers, wrapping her in a blanket, and dumping her body on Swann Drive in Druid Hill Park in January 2021. The Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office previously reported that video evidence was recovered showing the defendant leaving his apartment with the victim and returning without her.

He was later found with the murder weapon and the victim’s car keys.