News Releases

Montgomery County Police Charge 26-Year-Old with First Degree Murder for the Death of 92-Year-Old Woman

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, July 28, 2021

Gaithersburg, MD – A 26-year-old woman has been arrested and charged with first degree murder in the death of her 92-year-old roommate.

At approximately 8:20 a.m. Wednesday morning, Montgomery County Police and Montgomery County Fire Rescue, responded to a residence on Spruell Drive in Kensington, for a death investigation.

Upon their arrival, Julia Birch told officers that she killed her 92-year-old roommate, Nancy Ann Frankel. Officers located Frankel in the home and notified the Homicide Section of a possible murder. Evidence recovered in the residence supported Birch’s statement and she was taken into custody and transported to Montgomery County Police Headquarters to be interviewed.

During the interview, Birch admitted to killing Frankel, and then calling 911 to report the death.
An autopsy is scheduled for Thursday, July 29 to determine cause and manner of death.

Birch was transported to the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit and charged with First Degree Murder. She is being held without bond.

 

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Release ID: 21-280
Media Contact: Shiera D. Goff 
Categories: homicide