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By
Maya St. Hillaire
- June 16, 2025
Court
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Daily Stories
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Homicides
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Suspects
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Victims
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Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge LaZette C. Ringgold-Kirksey sentenced 28-year-old Dayrel McFarland to an aggregate sentence of life plus three years on June 16 for his role in the death of Jamal Barney, 37. McFarland was convicted of first-degree murder and possession of a deadly weapon with the intent to injure by a jury on March 31.
Barney was found in the 500 block of N. Payson Street on Oct. 2, 2023, with his body stuffed under a mattress. Barney was reported missing by his family nine days prior. During the trial, a witness stated that McFarland admitted to killing Barney by repeatedly hitting his head with a 40-pound cinder block, continuing to sit next to his body for almost a day, and attempting to clean the crime scene with acid.
Defense attorney Joseph Owens requested that Judge Ringgold-Kirksey deliver a reduced sentence because this is McFarland’s first offense. The prosecution argued that McFarland’s attempts to cover the crime scene indicated that this was a premeditated murder, and he was well aware of his actions.
While delivering McFarland’s sentence, Judge Ringgold-Kirksey said, “This case just leaves me speechless.”
McFarland maintains his innocence for his role in the murder.