In the quiet suburban enclave of Cockeysville, Maryland, the Browning family resided in a large, farmhouse-style home, the picture of idyllic family life. John Browning, a 45-year-old respected attorney, and his wife, Tamara, 44, were raising their three sons: Nicholas, and his two younger brothers, 13-year-old Gregory and 11-year-old Benjamin. The family was known in their community as upstanding and kind, with John serving as a scoutmaster and a leader in their church.
Neighbors described the Brownings as incredible people who would go out of their way to help others.
The façade of this peaceful existence was shattered on February 1, 2008. While his family slept, 15-year-old Nicholas Browning methodically shot his father, mother, and two younger brothers to death using his father's handgun. After the slayings, he disposed of the weapon in some nearby bushes and proceeded to spend the night and the following day with friends, feigning normalcy. The grim discovery was staged by Nicholas himself on Saturday evening when he was dropped off at his home. He went inside and then emerged to tell his friends that his father was dead, after which he called 911.
When police arrived, they found John Browning deceased on a ground-floor room, while his wife and two younger sons were found in their upstairs bedrooms. There were no signs of a struggle. Initially, Nicholas told investigators a story about burglars being responsible for the horrific scene. However, his calm demeanor and the lack of evidence of a break-in quickly raised suspicion. After questioning, Nicholas confessed to the murders early on Sunday, February 3rd. He was arrested and charged as an adult with four counts of first-degree murder.
The motive for the patricide was a source of contention. Nicholas alleged that he had been physically and mentally abused by his father. However, prosecutors painted a different picture, arguing that Nicholas murdered his parents because he didn't want to be told what to do and killed his brothers so he wouldn't have to share his inheritance. Despite pleas for clemency from some family members who cited the alleged abuse, Nicholas Browning pleaded guilty to four counts of first-degree murder in January 2009. He was sentenced to four life terms in prison, with two of those sentences to be served consecutively. A request for a sentence reduction in 2014 was denied. Nicholas Browning will be eligible for parole consideration in 2031.
