What began as a joyous wedding celebration in Maryland took a tragic turn when a heated argument between sisters ended in a fatal stabbing. The incident has left a community in shock and serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of escalating conflicts.
Authorities in Kensville, Maryland, responded to a stabbing report around 1:35 a.m. on Sunday morning. Upon arriving at a residence, they discovered 31-year-old Alyssa Jerel on the driveway with severe neck injuries. Despite being rushed to the hospital, Alyssa was pronounced dead approximately 30 minutes later.
Before succumbing to her wounds, Alyssa was able to identify her attacker. When asked by an officer who stabbed her, she pointed at her 29-year-old sister, Brianna Jerel, who was present at the scene.
Police cars with flashing lights at a crime scene investigation.
Further investigation revealed that the sisters had attended a wedding earlier that evening and had visited a witness’s home afterward. The witness informed police that a minor argument broke out between the sisters around 8:30 p.m., escalating as the evening progressed.
Around 1:00 a.m., the sisters were leaving the witness’s home when the witness heard one of them repeatedly exclaiming, “Oh my God!” Turning around, the witness saw Alyssa collapsed on the ground, bleeding profusely, while Brianna leaned against their car.
Upon detaining Brianna and before any formal questioning, she reportedly made unsolicited statements to detectives, asking about her sister’s condition and if she would be okay. According to charging documents, Brianna admitted, “I know it’s real. I actually used a utility knife. I never actually tried. I pinned it up to her as a warning.”
At the crime scene, investigators discovered a yellow box cutter a short distance from Alyssa’s location. This corroborated Brianna’s earlier statement of using the knife as a warning to silence her sister. However, when detectives attempted to formally interview Brianna, she refused to cooperate. Upon being informed of Alyssa’s death, Brianna reportedly responded with, “Oh f***, I thought I just nipped her,” before breaking down in tears.
Based on witness testimonies and Brianna’s own admissions, authorities arrested and charged her with first-degree murder. Palm Beach County District Attorney Dave Aronberg weighed in on the case, stating, “It’s been shocking. You see a lot of horrible things as a prosecutor. I don’t remember ever seeing two sisters going at it and one of them intentionally grabs a knife to try to just nip the other one, just try to cut her, make her bleed a little bit, but then it goes too far.”
A gavel rests on a wooden block in a courtroom setting.
Aronberg acknowledged that while sibling rivalries and arguments are common, the use of a deadly weapon in this instance elevates the situation to an entirely different level. He further emphasized that bringing a knife into any altercation implies a level of intent and premeditation that could lead to a murder conviction.
Brianna Jerel is currently being held without bond at the Baltimore County Jail. Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for September 20th. The case serves as a tragic reminder of the importance of conflict resolution and seeking help when disagreements escalate.
