CHESTER RESIDENT PLEADS GUILTY TO SECOND-DEGREE MURDER OF HIS FATHER
Queen Anne's County, MD - Drew Bernard Meyer, a resident of Chester, has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in connection with the death of his father, Wayne Michael Meyer. The plea was formally entered on May 12, 2025, nearly a year after the incident occurred at the victim's residence on Auckland Way in Chester, Maryland.
The case originated on May 17, 2024, when law enforcement officers from the Queen Anne's County Office of the Sheriff, Maryland State Police, Maryland Transportation Authority Police, and the Department of Natural Resources responded to a welfare check at the residence.
Upon arrival, they found Wayne Michael Meyer deceased. Authorities reported no signs of forced entry, and an autopsy later revealed that the victim had been stabbed 38 times and sustained an additional 21 cuts. The injuries were located on his head, neck, torso, and limbs.
An investigation led by the Queen Anne's County Criminal Investigations Unit provided strong evidence implicating Drew Meyer. Crime scene analysis conducted by the Maryland State Police Forensic Sciences Division confirmed the presence of DNA from both Drew and the victim on a butcher knife found at the scene.
Witness testimonies, including a neighbor's report of a loud argument, and data from a Ring camera in the area further contributed to the case. The footage showed that only Drew and the victim's vehicles were present at the residence around the time of the incident.
The investigation revealed that the father and son had a dispute regarding Drew's prolonged unemployment. Text communications and conversations with family members indicated that the argument had been heated.
Concern increased among family members when Wayne Meyer stopped responding to phone calls. A subsequent search for Drew Meyer resulted in him being located with his vehicle in Roanoke, Virginia, where he was arrested by Roanoke County Police with assistance from Maryland authorities.
Sentencing is scheduled for July 21, 2025. Drew Meyer faces a maximum sentence of 40 years. However, the State is recommending a 30-year active incarceration period, with 10 years suspended.
This proposed sentence exceeds the Maryland Sentencing Guidelines, which suggest a penalty based on the severity of the crime and the defendant's criminal history.
The case was prosecuted by State's Attorney Lance G. Richardson and Deputy State's Attorney Christine Dulla Rickard. Authorities have emphasized the extensive collaboration between the Queen Anne's County Office of the Sheriff and the Maryland State Police, whose forensic and investigative expertise were critical in solving the case.
