A 28-year-old woman remains on the run after allegedly stabbing her 81-year-old grandmother to death and critically injuring her father in a shocking family violence case that has Maryland authorities scrambling to protect the public.
Story Snapshot
- Breante Thomas wanted for murdering grandmother Helen Thomas and attempting to kill her father
- Police responded to welfare check in Fort Washington, found elderly victim with multiple stab wounds
- Suspect fled in white 2012 Volkswagen Passat with Maryland tags, remains at large
- Mental health issues may have contributed to violent attack in previously peaceful neighborhood
Violent Family Attack Shocks Community
Prince George’s County Police discovered a horrific scene on September 14, 2025, when they responded to a welfare check at a home on Bonhill Drive in Fort Washington. Officers found 81-year-old Helen Thomas dead from multiple stab wounds and an adult male family member critically injured. The suspect, identified as 28-year-old Breante Thomas, had already fled the scene by the time police arrived at approximately 1:50 p.m.
The attack occurred in what neighbors describe as a quiet, safe residential neighborhood where such violence is virtually unheard of. Helen Thomas had reportedly just returned from church when the brutal assault took place in her own home. The male victim, believed to be Thomas’s father, was rushed to a hospital where he remains in critical but stable condition.
Manhunt Continues for Armed Suspect
Authorities have issued warrants for Breante Thomas on charges of first- and second-degree murder and attempted murder. She fled the scene in a white 2012 Volkswagen Passat bearing Maryland license plates 3FF3906. Police have released her photograph and vehicle information to the public, urging anyone with information about her whereabouts to contact law enforcement immediately.
The investigation suggests possible mental health factors may have contributed to the attack. Police radio traffic reportedly indicated Thomas may have been experiencing auditory hallucinations or hearing voices at the time of the incident. This raises serious concerns about the failure of mental health systems to prevent such tragic outcomes when individuals in crisis have access to vulnerable family members.
Public Safety Concerns Mount
As the manhunt enters its third day, residents of Fort Washington and surrounding areas remain on edge. The Thomas family had been longtime residents with no prior publicized incidents involving law enforcement, making this sudden explosion of violence particularly shocking to neighbors and community members who knew them.
This case highlights the dangerous intersection of untreated mental health issues and family violence, particularly when elderly Americans become victims in their own homes. The fact that an 81-year-old grandmother could be brutally murdered by her own granddaughter represents a breakdown of the family bonds that traditionally protect our most vulnerable citizens. Such incidents underscore the need for better mental health intervention before crisis situations escalate to deadly violence.
Sources:
Woman wanted in fatal stabbing of grandmother in Fort Washington – Fox 5 DC
Woman found dead in Fort Washington home, homicide investigation underway – Fox 5 DC
