BSU Student Found Not Guilty in Roommate’s Slaying

By Spectrum Staff

A Prince George’s County jury on Nov. 15 found a Bowie State University student not guilty of all charges in the fatal slaying of her roommate in September 2011.

Alexis Simpson, 20, was found not guilty of first-degree murder, second-degree murder and other lesser charges in the stabbing death of her roommate Dominique Frazier, 18. The jurors apparently believed that Simpson was acting in self-defense during a brawl in their suite in an on-campus residence hall, according to media reports.

Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Angela Alsobrooks told reporters that she was “absolutely stunned” by the verdict. She added that Simpson was a sympathetic defendant. Both Simpson and Frazier’s family declined to comment after the hearing.

However, several people expressed shock and sadness over the verdict through a steady stream of comments on facebook and other social media.

Ryan Butler, who created the facebook page, “RIP Dominique Frazier”, summarized the feelings of many who posted comments on the page: “As we all may know already, Alexis Simpson was found not guilty of murder for the slaying of Dominique Frazier. Some of you are sad, some happy, and some uneasy. We have to realize that what’s overlooked by man is not by our Lord.”

The tragic slaying rocked the festive atmosphere on Sept. 13, 2011, as students, alumni and friends gathered to celebrate homecoming week.

After an evening event, Prince George’s County police responded to a call of a stabbing in the Christa McAuliffe Residential Community.  A preliminary investigation indicated that two women were involved in an argument in their suite that escalated into a physical confrontation, authorities said. No one else was injured in the assault.  

Bowie State University public safety officers were the first to arrive at the scene. Officers found a woman, later identified as Frazier, in a hallway. She was bleeding from the upper body and unconscious, authorities said. Frazier was taken to Prince George’s Hospital Center where she died at 8:44 p.m.

At about midnight, Simpson turned herself in to officers at the Prince George’s County Police Department District 3, authorities said. She was then turned over to the custody of the Maryland State Police.

More than a year later, campus community found itself in the media spotlight once again as media crews rushed to campus immediately after the verdict was announced on Nov. 15 seeking comments from students.

Many students commenting in posts on social media struck a conciliatory tone. Sherina Garner commented that her heart went out to both of the families. “I’m sure that this whole thing has been a big nightmare. Sometimes all you wish a person would do is pray, and not share their opinion ‘cause you don’t know much of anything until you have walked in those shoes.”