State’s Attorney Announces 50-Year Sentence for Man Convicted of Murder of Roommate

UPPER MARLBORO, MD – Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Tara Jackson announced today that 40-year-old Richard Bennaugh has been sentenced to 50 years in prison after being convicted of second-degree murder on June 3, 2025, in the shooting death of 27-year-old Dominique Scott Hayes. Bennaugh was also convicted of use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence and tampering with evidence.

“Today’s sentence is about honoring the life of the victim and acknowledging the pain their family has endured,” says State’s Attorney Jackson. “While no sentence can erase the grief they feel, we hope this outcome brings them a measure of comfort. We are grateful to our prosecutors and law enforcement partners for their dedication to this case, and we remain committed to working tirelessly to bring justice to victims and their families by holding offenders of violent crime responsible.”

On January 10, 2024, Bennaugh fatally shot Hayes in their Springdale home. 

###