LEONARDTOWN, Md. – January 5, 1980 – Raymond Leo Burrell, a recent graduate of Chopticon High School, lived with his mom off West Park Avenue in Leonardtown. After dinner, he headed to the High’s convenience store in town. Raymond Leo Burrell never came home.
In a 2004 interview, his mother recalled that Raymond had never gone away overnight without telling her. “But he was a grown young man, so it really didn’t bother me. He never did get that far away from home.”
The following day, Raymond’s mother went to work. If Raymond had not returned after her shift, she planned to call the Sheriff’s Office. However, she was met at her door that evening by Sheriff Somerville to tell her Raymond had been murdered.
Earlier that evening, kids were sledding on the grounds of Leonardtown Elementary School. At about 8:43 pm, they discovered the body of Raymond Leo Burrell. He was lying on his back with a gunshot wound to the head.
Sheriff’s Office investigators believed that Burrell’s murder occurred an hour or so before the body was discovered.
Suspect(s) were developed in the case, but 43 years later, no arrests have yet to be made.
If you have any information about this cold case, please contact the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office at 301-475-4040.
Wow , I wonder if still has family in area, his killer may be still alive
Elementary
Damn shame..
Yes Raymond’s death it still a damn shame. His mother Mary Agnes (Scoot) Burrell ; Mrs Burrell to me, was a lovely lady. She loved her son dearly and didn’t deserve this tragic ending to his life. Her cross was heavy yet she never showed it.
Raymond Burrell’s murder and Whitey Woodburn’s murder still weigh heavy on many of us that grew up in Leonardtown.
Hope the author of Henrietta’s tragic demise will investigate and write about Raymond and Whitey’s murders.