A suspect accused of fatally assaulting 38-year-old Sierra Johnson last summer appeared before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Barry G. Williams as prosecutors and defense attorneys delivered opening statements in what is described as an “incredibly serious and brutal” case.
Bryan Cherry, 37, is charged with first- and second-degree murder and use of a dangerous weapon in connection to the July 14, 2024, death of a woman found inside a home on the 800 block of Abbott Court. Officers responded around 8:56 a.m. after receiving a call for a wellness check from a neighbor who reported hearing a woman scream and seeing a man running from the residence.
According to the prosecution, the scene was “gruesome.” Investigators found the victim’s body inside the home with severe head trauma. A backpack containing a yellow crowbar and bleach was recovered nearby. A neighbor told police the defendant matched the description of the man seen leaving the home with blood on his person and an object protruding from his pants.
“This was a brutal murder,” the prosecution told jurors, adding that “no motive will ever justify that level of violence.” The state said DNA and other evidence linked the backpack to Cherry and urged jurors to “find the defendant guilty of all charges.”
Defense attorney Gregory J. Fischer countered that police “jumped to conclusions” and that “the pieces of the puzzle do not fit together.” He told jurors there was “blood all over the place but not a drop on the defendant,” and that the clothing the witness described did not match what Cherry was wearing when police arrived. The defense argued that the prosecution’s key witness changed her story repeatedly and that “this is a case where police guessed at judgment.”
During testimony, one witness, a friend of the victim, became emotional as she recalled visiting the home around 7 a.m. She testified that Cherry answered the door dressed in black and wearing a ski mask. When she asked where the victim was, Cherry allegedly replied that she was upstairs and told the witness to “go see for yourself.” The witness said she ran upstairs, saw blood, and found Johnson’s body. She said she fled the home in fear and later called 911.
The 911 call was played for the jury. The witness could be heard describing the defendant and telling the dispatcher to check on Johnson, saying she heard the victim scream. The prosecution clarified that the witness acted in fear and only told dispatch about the scream in an attempt to prompt a quick response from officers.
On cross-examination, the defense questioned the witness’ credibility, pointing to her prior conviction for making a false statement to police in 2012, as well as her history of drug use.
The defense also asked whether the witness was offered leniency in a pending case in exchange for her testimony. The witness denied receiving any deal and maintained that she was telling the truth, saying, “If I have to go to jail, I will. I’m not gonna lie for anyone.” Fischer also questioned her statements during the 911 call and claimed they failed to match what she told detectives during her interview.
A forensic investigator also testified about processing the scene, explaining how she documented the victim’s body and noted rigor mortis, blood pooling, and visible injuries to Johnson’s head. She said the victim showed stiffness in her jaw and fingertips, as well as darkening in her skin caused by blood settling after her death.
Cherry’s trial is scheduled to continue before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Barry G. Williams on Nov. 6.
