A jury found 45-year-old Reginald Dunlap guilty of first-degree murder for brutally killing his wife Lauren Charles.
Charles’s body was found inside the couple’s North Kensington home in March of 2021.
According to the medical examiner, she had asphyxiated after a pillowcase was forced down her throat. She was also beaten to death with a suspected decorative Buddha statue.
Court documents revealed Dunlap claimed he found his wife dead after returning from church. But prosecutors were able to uncover evidence like Lauren’s electronic devices showing her health data ended in the middle of the night. Following the murder, prosecutors say Dunlap poured bleach on her body and ransacked their bedroom to stage a crime scene to cover it up. On Monday, Charles’s father and close friend spoke outside the Family Justice Center.
“She loved him until the end,” said John Charles, Lauren’s dad. “She just understood that she needed to get away because it was not healthy for her. But it was unhealthy for a long time.”
Charging documents showed Dunlap told police he and Charles were on the verge of separating, but he did not want a divorce. Charles says Dunlap killed the only person who loved him and showed no signs of remorse in the courtroom.
“Reginald Dunlap is a predator. He had nothing inside of him, but evil.”
Lauren’s friend Besrat says she gave the defendant generous terms when she asked Dunlap to leave her home in four months.
“She was just one of the most brilliant people that I’ve met,” said Besrat. “Not only that, she was very very kind, very thoughtful.”
Lauren’s father applauded the State’s Attorney’s office for their hard work in ensuring his daughter received justice. He said the medical examiner was unable to determine a time of death, but prosecutors did. Chief of the Special Victims Division, Assistant State’s Attorney Debbie Feinstein prosecutive this case along with Assistant State’s Attorney Sheila Begheri.
“She wanted out,” said Feinsetin. “She owned the home, she owned the cars, he had nothing. Literally less than nothing. He didn’t want to lose her. He couldn’t afford to lose her. And he could profit from her death.”
Dunlap is facing life in prison. The sentencing is scheduled for July 7 at 9:30 a.m.
State’s Attorney John McCarthy said when he first became SA, the vast majority of homicides in the county were domestic. For more information or resources, visit the Family Justice Center’s website.
Related:
Update: North Kensington Man Accused of Killing Wife Indicted for Murder
