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Burnham will stand trial in Cumberland

October 11th, 2022 by WCBC Radio

The Cumberland Times News reports the North End man accused of killing his mother’s friend and his half-brother and his wife last year just hours later at their Ellicott City home will face court proceedings for the homicides after being found competent to stand trial last week in Allegany and Howard counties.

Jeffrey Allen Burnham, 47, was found not competent by judges earlier this year in both counties due to a mental disorder. However, hearings held last week in both jurisdictions led to new rulings that Burnham is now competent to stand trial, according to electronic Maryland court records.

The Oct. 4 ruling in Allegany County Circuit Court of competency to stand trial comes nearly a year after the Cumberland man was indicted by an Allegany County grand jury for the South End killing of 83-year-old Rebecca Reynolds.

Burnham, 47, was charged with first-degree murder and one count of motor vehicle theft in connection with the Sept. 29, 2021, killing of Reynolds, who was a friend of Burnham’s mother.

Reynolds’ shooting death at her Fourth Street residence was ruled a homicide.