Per the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office:
Today in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, the honorable Judge Jeannie Cho sentenced defendant, Ruel Francis Dempster II, 34, of Silver Spring, to life in prison suspend all but 40 years and five years of supervised probation upon release.
In November, Dempster entered a guilty plea to the charge of first-degree murder for the death of Alice Dennis, the mother of his children.
This charge stems from the discovery of Dennis’ body inside the couple’s Silver Spring home on April 18th, 2018. Dempster was arrested in May of 2018 in the area of Nuevo Laredo, Mexico by the Federal Police (La Policia Federal) on the strength of a Montgomery County warrant.
Additional information regarding the case from the charging documents:
During the evening hours of Tuesday, April 17, 2018, DEMPSTER’s mother discovered that both of DENNIS and DEMPSTER’s children were at a neighborhood homework club. DEMPSTER’s mother had observed that DENNIS’ car was still in the complex and made several attempts to contact both DENNIS and DEMPSTER by phone and by knocking on the door, without success. DEMPSTER’S mother took the children to her house, where they have remained since.
On Wednesday, April 18, 2018, DEMPSTER’s father, who has been interviewed by police, drove his granddaughter to school and spoke to the principal about being unable to contact DENNIS and DEMPSTER. The principal assisted DEMPSTER’s father with calling police and requesting they check the welfare of DENNIS and DEMPSTER at their residence. Police obtained a key from the leasing office in order to gain entry. Your affiant would note that both the deadbolt and knob were locked and that there was music turned up to full volume within the residence. It was at this check the welfare search that DENNIS was discovered deceased. Your affiant would note that there were no signs of forced entry at the residence.
Investigators were provided with a phone number for DEMPSTER and DENNIS and investigation has determined that both phones are missing and DENNIS’s is currently turned off. Investigators also determined that a phone belonging to one of their children is missing and that phone, too, is turned off.
Your affiant learned of and interviewed a witness, who is known by your affiant and wished to remain anonymous out of fear of possible reprisal. This witness heard of DENNIS’ death and immediately contacted DEMPSTER via social media asking if he was okay. The witness advised that they received a delayed response from DEMPSTER in which he stated, ” Delete everything of me and you and u never heard from me take care of yourself and stay out of trouble.” The witness received this text message at 7:19 pm on Wednesday, April 18, 2018.
DEMPSTER is unemployed and has had no contact with family or law enforcement regarding DENNIS or his children.
DEMPSTER was to appear in Montgomery County District Court regarding a fraud charge on April 19, 2018, and failed to appear. DEMPSTER has a lengthy criminal history with Federal and Local charges to include, Firearms possession, Controlled Dangerous Substance violations, Theft, Fraud, Manslaughter and Reckless Endangerment.
Based upon the aforementioned facts and circumstances, your affiant believes probable cause exists to charge Ruel Francis DEMPSTER, 2nd with one (1) count of First Degree Murder, a violation of Maryland Criminal Law, Section 2-201, in the death of Alice DENNIS. Based upon the serious nature of this crime and possible penalties should DEMPSTER be convicted, your affiant requests a warrant be issued.
The murder of Alice DENNIS occurred in Montgomery County, Maryland.