BALTIMORE — A Baltimore County man, previously involved in a plea agreement concerning the murders of a grandmother and her granddaughter in Middle River, was pronounced guilty by a jury on Friday for related crimes occurring in Baltimore City.
Bryan Cherry, aged 38, was convicted of first-degree murder and the illegal possession of a deadly weapon.
According to court records, Cherry’s three-week cycle of violent crime commenced in Baltimore City on June 26, 2024, specifically in the 2600 block of East Eager Street.
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Witnesses reported to law enforcement that Cherry attacked a man who was distributing free supplies to patients at the EBMC Care Center, seemingly without any reason.
The surviving victim informed police at the hospital that he had never met or interacted with Cherry prior to the assault.
Charging documents indicate that the victim sustained multiple stab wounds to various parts of his body, including the neck, both hands, rib cage, and shoulder.
Following this violent incident, Cherry’s rampage continued into Middle River, where he murdered 29-year-old Autumn Harvey and her 75-year-old grandmother, Iona Elizabeth Sellers, inside their bedrooms.
Authorities report that the murders took place in the vicinity of Taos Circle, Middle River.
An autopsy revealed that Harvey had been stabbed multiple times in the head, neck, and shoulder, while Sellers suffered blunt force trauma to her head.
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Cherry’s crime wave did not stop there.
Just a week after the tragic killings of Harvey and Sellers, police responded to Abbott Court in Baltimore City following reports of a woman screaming.
Upon arriving, officers forcibly entered a residence to discover Sierra Johnson, who was found partially clothed and deceased on a living room sofa, having suffered blunt force trauma to the face and head.
A witness was able to identify Cherry as the perpetrator, mentioning that he fled through a back window just before officers entered the residence.
In August 2024, law enforcement located Cherry and arrested him in connection with Johnson’s murder, as well as the attempted murder of the man assaulted outside the clinic.
Upon learning of Cherry’s arrest, Baltimore County Police presented a warrant for the double homicide of Harvey and Sellers, a charge to which he later pleaded guilty in order to avoid a jury trial.
Baltimore City State’s Attorney Ivan Bates confirmed that his office will pursue a sentence of life without the possibility of parole, stating, “the safety of the public demands nothing less.”
“Those who perpetrate repeated, brutal acts of violence must not be allowed another chance to inflict trauma on our residents. I commend the diligent efforts of BPD Homicide Detectives and Assistant State’s Attorney Elizabeth Stock for her effective prosecution in this case. We are committed to holding the most dangerous offenders accountable and ensuring they never get another opportunity to cause such significant harm,” said State’s Attorney Bates.
The complete statement is provided below:
Today’s verdict brings a measure of justice for Sierra Johnson and her loved ones, but it also underscores a deeply troubling reality. Bryan Cherry has demonstrated, time and again, to possess an extraordinary capacity for violence and a complete disregard for human life. This conviction, alongside his prior conviction for attempted murder in our city and his guilty plea to a double murder in Baltimore County, paints a clear and alarming picture of a defendant who poses an ongoing and severe threat to our communities.
“Our office will seek Life Without the possibility of parole at sentencing because the safety of the public demands nothing less. Individuals who commit repeated, brutal acts of violence cannot be given another opportunity to traumatize our residents. I want to acknowledge the amazing work by BPD Homicide Detectives, as well as ASA Elizabeth Stock for her skillful prosecution of the case. We remain steadfast in our commitment to holding the most dangerous offenders accountable and ensuring they are never again in a position to inflict such devastating harm.
Baltimore City State’s Attorney Ivan Bates
