Chester Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Second-Degree Murder of his Father

Queen Anne's County, MD - On July 21, 2025, a Chester, Maryland resident, Drew Bernard Meyer, was sentenced to 30 years of active incarceration followed by 10 years of suspended sentence by Hon. C. Lynn Knight of the Queen Anne's County Circuit Court for the second-degree murder of his father, Wayne Michael Meyer.

The sentencing follows an incident that occurred on May 16, 2024, at a residence located in the 1000 block of Auckland Way in Chester, Maryland.

Incident Details

On May 17, 2024, authorities responded to the residence after a welfare check revealed that Wayne Michael Meyer had been found deceased. Deputies from the Queen Anne's County Office of the Sheriff, Maryland State Police, Maryland Transportation Authority Police, and the Department of Natural Resources were involved in the initial response.

The body of the deceased exhibited 38 stab wounds and 21 additional cuts, with injuries to the head, neck, torso, and extremities. There was no sign of forced entry into the residence.

Investigation Findings

The investigation, conducted by the Queen Anne's County Office of the Sheriff's Criminal Investigations Unit along with the Maryland State Police Forensic Sciences Division, revealed evidence linking Drew Bernard Meyer to the crime. Drew Bernard Meyer is the son of Wayne Michael Meyer, the victim.  

A butcher knife recovered from the scene contained DNA from both the victim and Drew Meyer, as confirmed by laboratory analysis.

Preliminary inquiries indicated that Drew Meyer was involved in a heated argument with his father on May 16, 2024. The dispute centered around Drew's extended period of unemployment.

A neighbor corroborated hearing loud arguments from the residence, while surveillance footage from a neighboring Ring camera captured only the vehicles of Wayne Michael Meyer and Drew Meyer entering and leaving the property.

Concern arose among family members when the victim stopped responding to phone calls.

Authorities tracked Meyer to Roanoke, Virginia, after a "ping" on his cell phone and a BOLO alert for his vehicle were issued. He was subsequently apprehended by the Roanoke County Police Department and held pending extradition to Maryland.

Legal Context and Sentencing

Second-degree murder is defined as murder without premeditation. The investigation established that the incident resulted from a spontaneous act of violence rather than a planned action.

Previously, the maximum penalty for second-degree murder in Maryland was 30 years, which has since increased to 40 years. Maryland does not impose the death penalty.

Despite sentencing guidelines proposing a lower period of incarceration based on the defendant's criminal history, the State recommended and secured a sentence of 30 years active incarceration with an additional 10 years suspended.

This recommendation surpassed the guidelines and does not allow for an automatic appeal. State's Attorney Lance G. Richardson and Deputy State's Attorney Christine Dulla Rickard prosecuted the case.

Acknowledgments

The Queen Anne's County Office of the Sheriff and allied agencies were commended for their thorough investigation and contributions to the case resolution.

This sentencing marks the conclusion of a tragic and complex case, bringing some measure of closure to the family and friends of Wayne Michael Meyer.