Man Pleads Guilty to Killing Mother of His Unborn Child

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A Baltimore man is expected to serve 50 years in prison for killing the mother of his unborn child after accepting a plea offer from the prosecution on Jan. 13.

Malik McCormick agreed to plead guilty to first-degree murder, committing a crime against a pregnant person and firearm use in a felony or violent crime for a sentence of life, suspending all but 50 years, in connection to the death of 19-year-old Jaymyra Burrell. The prosecutor said the defendant’s sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 19 to accommodate Burrell’s family members, some of whom were present during Monday’s proceeding.

McCormick and his defense attorney, Natalie Finegar, initially appeared in reception court before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa K. Copeland before being sent to Judge Althea M. Handy for trial, where the defendant accepted the prosecution’s offer.

Charging documents state that Baltimore Police found Burrell on the 5600 block of Woodmont Avenue on Dec. 4, 2022. The victim was four to five months pregnant and was shot nine times outside of her apartment. She was pronounced dead at Johns Hopkins Hospital.

During their investigation, police learned that Burrell was carrying McCormick’s child.