FORT WASHINGTON, Md. — The Prince George’s County Police Department’s Homicide Unit is seeking public help to locate 28-year-old Breante Thomas of Waldorf, charged in the stabbing death of her 81-year-old grandmother, Helen Thomas, at a home in Fort Washington on September 14, 2025. Officers responded to a welfare check around 1:50 p.m. in the 500 block of Bonhill Drive, where they found Helen Thomas inside the residence with stab wounds. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
A preliminary investigation shows Breante Thomas also stabbed an adult male family member during the incident. That victim remains in critical but stable condition at a local hospital, according to police updates released September 15, 2025. Witnesses reported seeing Thomas flee the area in a white 2012 Volkswagen Passat bearing Maryland license plates 3FF3906. Authorities have described the vehicle as a key identifier in the ongoing search.
Thomas faces charges of first- and second-degree murder in Helen Thomas’s death, along with first- and second-degree attempted murder and related offenses tied to the second stabbing. Police emphasized that she should not be approached and urged anyone with information on her whereabouts to dial 911 immediately. For direct contact with detectives, the Homicide Unit line is available at 301-516-2512.
The incident unfolded in a quiet residential neighborhood along Bonhill Drive, a tree-lined street in Fort Washington known for its single-family homes and proximity to the Potomac River.
Waldorf, where Thomas resides, lies just across the county line in Charles County.
Under Maryland law, first-degree murder carries a penalty of life imprisonment without parole if convicted, while second-degree murder can result in up to 30 years behind bars. Attempted murder charges follow similar frameworks, with first-degree attempts punishable by up to life in prison and second-degree by 10 to 20 years. These statutes, outlined in Maryland Code, Criminal Law Article Sections 2-201 through 2-206, require prosecutors to prove intent and premeditation for the higher degrees. In family-related cases like this, investigations often examine prior interactions, though police have not released details on any history between Thomas and the victims beyond their relation.
The welfare check that led to the discovery stemmed from a concerned call, a common procedure in domestic incidents where officers enter homes to assess immediate risks. Maryland guidelines, per the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, prioritize such responses to prevent escalation, especially in elder care situations. Helen Thomas, at 81, fell into a demographic where vulnerability to family violence is a noted concern; state data from the Maryland Coordinating Council on Criminal Justice Assistance shows that adults over 65 account for about 5 percent of violent crime victims annually, often in home settings.
The search for Thomas extends beyond immediate borders, with alerts disseminated to neighboring jurisdictions including Charles and St. Mary’s counties. Maryland State Police have been looped in for highway patrols along Route 210 and 301, routes commonly used for cross-county travel. Vehicle recognition technology, deployed at toll plazas on the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, could flag the Passat if it enters high-traffic zones toward Virginia or D.C.
As the investigation continues, detectives are piecing together timelines from neighbors and digital records, including potential surveillance from nearby businesses on Indian Head Highway. No motive has been publicly disclosed. The male victim’s condition, while stable, means his account could provide crucial details once he recovers.
