LEONARDTOWN, Md. (September 29, 2025) — Jayson David Pressley, 39, of Lexington Park, was sentenced to life in prison plus five years for first-degree murder and firearm use in the January 2025 killing of his ex-wife, Chaquanda Latise Odom, 36, in St. Mary’s County.
On January 3, Maryland State Police responded to a 911 call at 11:10 a.m. reporting a shooting in the 21000 block of Liberty Street, Lexington Park. Troopers found Odom deceased in her vehicle with gunshot wounds to her head and upper body. Pressley later confessed at the St. Mary’s County Detention Center, where police recovered the 9 mm handgun used in the shooting from his vehicle. Court records note the couple had recently divorced, and Pressley claimed the incident occurred during a meeting to exchange a $22,000 check.
“This was a selfish act of domestic violence, where the Defendant executed a young mother, robbing her children of her love,” said State’s Attorney Jaymi Sterling. “His callous choices devastated family and friends. This life sentence delivers justice and accountability.”
Sergeant John Wildman of the Maryland State Police Homicide Division led the investigation. Senior Assistant State’s Attorneys Donna Pettersen and Alena Mosier prosecuted the case, with Circuit Court Judge Amy Lorenzini presiding.
Maryland law mandates life imprisonment for first-degree murder, with an additional five-year minimum for firearm use in violent crimes (Section 4-204). The county’s Domestic Violence Unit, led by Pettersen, handled 261 cases in 2024, mostly assaults and protective order violations. St. Mary’s sees high rates of such orders, reflecting ongoing domestic violence challenges. In 2023, Maryland reported 38 domestic violence fatalities, with local programs aiding 555 victims with shelter and 580 with nonresidential support.
Pressley’s case moved swiftly from charges on January 3 to a guilty plea before sentencing, bypassing a trial. The St. Mary’s Sheriff’s Office Domestic Violence Unit and the Southern Maryland Center for Family Advocacy provide local victim support, including counseling and legal aid. Statewide, the Maryland Crime Victims’ Resource Center assists survivors, with 227 hotline calls logged recently.
