Police said the killing happened during an argument inside a Monroe Street home.
CHEVERLY, Md. — A 54-year-old Cheverly man has been charged with murder after police said he fatally stabbed his 80-year-old mother Tuesday morning inside a home on Monroe Street.
Prince George’s County police identified the suspect as Darrick Alston and the victim as Brenda Wheeler, both of Cheverly. Alston is charged with first-degree murder and second-degree murder. Police said he was taken into custody at the home and is being held without bond by the Department of Corrections.
Officers with the Cheverly Police Department were called at about 9:10 a.m. May 12 to a domestic dispute in the 6200 block of Monroe Street. When officers arrived, they found Wheeler inside the home with stab wounds. Police said she died at the scene. Investigators said the stabbing followed an argument between Alston and his mother, but they have not released details about what led to the dispute.
The Prince George’s County Police Department’s Homicide Unit is leading the investigation because county police investigate all homicides in Cheverly. Officials said Alston was still at the home when officers arrived and was arrested there. Police have not said whether anyone else was inside the home at the time of the stabbing or whether officers had been called to the address before Tuesday.
The case places Alston at the start of the criminal court process. First-degree murder is the most serious charge filed, while the second-degree murder count gives prosecutors another path as the case moves forward. Court records and future hearings are expected to show whether Alston has an attorney, when he will appear before a judge and how prosecutors describe the evidence.
The killing shook a quiet residential block in Cheverly, a Prince George’s County town near the District of Columbia line. Monroe Street is lined with homes, and the police response brought investigators to a neighborhood not often linked to homicide scenes. Authorities have released few details beyond the arrest, the charges and the account that the stabbing happened during an argument.
Alston remained held without bond as of the latest police update. Detectives are continuing to review the case and are expected to present more evidence through court filings and future hearings.
Author note: Last updated May 18, 2026.