A Mechanicsville man was sentenced to life in prison plus 20 years, with life plus 5 years of active incarceration, for the first-degree murder of a 46-year-old St. Mary’s County man outside a Great Mills liquor store in November 2023.
Leroy Christopher Neal, 50, was convicted by a St. Mary’s County jury on December 5, 2025, following a five-day trial. The Honorable Joseph Stanalonis presided over the case.
On November 4, 2023, deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office responded to the liquor store and found the victim suffering from gunshot wounds to his chest and arm. Investigators determined the victim had been lured to a secluded area of the parking lot at the rear of the building before being shot. He later died from his injuries.
State’s Attorney Jaymi Sterling described the crime as a cold-blooded execution.
“The defendant executed the victim in cold blood by shooting him in the back as he tried to escape,” Sterling said. “This was a merciless and premeditated killing that stole a man’s life and devastated his family. For years, his loved ones have carried the weight of this unimaginable loss while waiting for justice and accountability. My heart remains with them, and I hope this outcome brings them a measure of peace and closure.”
Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Alena Mosier and Assistant State’s Attorney Savanna Duncan prosecuted the case. Detective Kortnie Marsch of the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office was the lead investigator.
The victim, 46-year-old Scott Marvin Bernich, was a beloved St. Mary’s County coach whose death sent shockwaves through the local sports community. The shooting occurred in Great Mills, a community in northern St. Mary’s County near Naval Air Station Patuxent River, where families, military personnel and local residents frequently gather.
Neal is being held at the St. Mary’s County Detention and Rehabilitation Center in Leonardtown.
The sentencing brings closure to a case that has drawn significant attention in St. Mary’s County, where residents and law enforcement have worked together to address violent crime and support grieving families. The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office and State’s Attorney’s Office have emphasized their commitment to holding violent offenders accountable and keeping the community safe.
