TOWSON, MD—A 30-year-old man has been sentenced to forty years in prison after raping a woman in a parking lot at Loch Raven High School.

Brandon Saunders was convicted back in November on charges of first-degree rape, first-degree assault, and kidnapping.

At around 3:00 a.m. on July 28, 2019, a woman accepted a ride from what is commonly referred to as a “hack” in Baltimore City to be taken to her fathers’ house.

Instead, the driver of the car, Saunders, took the victim to the back parking lot of Loch Raven High School. Saunders then assaulted the victim, threatened her life, and raped her.

When Saunders went to the trunk to get a weapon, the victim was able to flee barefoot, through a wooded area, and onto I-695 where she flagged down a passing motorist for help.

The Baltimore County Police Department uncovered a match between DNA recovered from the victim and DNA recovered from the scene of a rape in Baltimore City. According to the lead prosecutor, Lisa Dever, “this connection became vital in assisting the police in determining that Brandon Saunders was the man who raped the victim in this case.”

After the police were able to locate and arrest Saunders, they obtained a DNA sample which matched the evidence recovered from the victim.

Judge Nancy Purpura sentenced Saunders to forty years for the rape and a concurrent thirty year term for the kidnapping. In doing so, Judge Purpura noted that the crime was a “brutal offense and (Saunders) did not show a hint of remorse.”

State’s Attorney Scott Shellenberger expressed his appreciation to the police, the prosecutors Lisa Dever and Everett Bryant, and Judge Purpura for the part each played “in assuring that this reprehensible crime was addressed and that the citizens of this State are protected for a long time from Brandon Saunders.”

“I particularly want to commend the victim of this crime for her strength and willingness to follow this case through to a just result.”

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