Ellicott City Man Can Go On Trial In Wife's Stabbing Death: Report

ELLICOTT CITY, MD — A Howard County Circuit Court judge ruled Friday that an Ellicott City man accused of stabbing his estranged wife to death can go on trial next year.

Alexander Stephenson, 53, has been charged in the death of 47-year-old Amethyst Stephenson. He has pleaded not criminally responsible to multiple charges, including first-degree murder, second-degree murder and violating a protective order, Patch reported previously.

The incident happened around 8:13 a.m. Feb. 8 at their home located in the 3400 block of Hunstmans Run, but four hours earlier, Stephenson had been in custody in Westminster on a charge of violating a protective order. He was released on his own recognizance, according to documents.

A charging document states that Amethyst Stephenson's son was the one who called 911. He woke up and heard "a commotion and yelling" coming from his mother's room, CBS News reported. When he got to the room, he said he saw Alexander Stephenson stabbing his mother in the closet.

"Alexander attempted to stop the victim's son from contacting the police. Ultimately, the victim's son contacted 911," the charging document read.

Amethyst Stephenson's son then said he saw Alexander Stephenson cut his wrists before running out of the house through the back door. After turning himself in, Alexander Stephenson was taken to Shock Trauma in Baltimore, where he was arrested upon release.

Stephenson remains at the Howard County Detention Center where he's being held without bond.

The next court date will be a motions hearing on Jan. 1, 2027, with the trial date set for March 15.