In the quiet community of Fort Washington, Maryland, a grim discovery was made on August 4, 2011, shattering the peace of a suburban neighborhood. Inside a home on the 11800 block of Hickory Drive, authorities found the bodies of 20-year-old Frank Lamar Harris and his mother, 56-year-old Patricia Harris. Both had been shot to death in what was quickly determined to be a double homicide. The discovery was made by Frank's father and Patricia's husband, who arrived home to the horrific scene.
The victims were found posed on a sofa, an eerie detail in an already tragic event, arranged as if they were asleep.
The investigation into the double homicide soon focused on a member of their own family. Twenty days after the bodies were found, police arrested Quindell Mercer, who was Patricia's son and Frank's step-brother. Although investigators struggled to find a clear motive for the killings, the evidence against Mercer began to mount. Prosecutors utilized an FBI handwriting expert and DNA evidence to connect the 35-year-old to the brutal crime.
In November 2012, a jury found Quindell Mercer guilty of two counts of second-degree murder and related handgun charges for the deaths of his mother and step-brother. Described by the State's Attorney as having executed his family members 'in cold blood for no apparent reason,' Mercer's conviction brought a measure of accountability for the senseless act of violence. In January 2013, he was sentenced to a term of 110 years in prison, ensuring he would no longer be a threat to the community.
