Katrina Ben Convicted in Shooting Death of Neighbor, Lover

Suspect was romantically involved with the victim

A woman has been convicted in the 2012 shooting death of her neighbor and lover, who prosecutors say she killed after finding out he was dating someone else.

Eric Somuah, 34, was found dead on the bed of his apartment June 6, 2012. He had been romantically involved with his neighbor, 35-year-old Katrina Renee Ben, a traveling nurse who had moved back home to Mississippi after Somuah's death. 

Prosecutors say Ben shot and killed Somuah when she found out he had been dating other women.

"When she found out she was not exclusively with him, she murdered him," State's Attorney for Montgomery County John McCarthy said.

A bullet casing was found in Somuah's bedroom, which matched a partially dismantled gun found along the Beltway near Colesville. 

A Maryland detective traced the gun back through its five previous owners, to a pawn shop in Columbia, Mississippi where it was purchased eight years ago by Ben.

"She thought she got away with it. She thought she got rid of the gun, but the Good Samaritan found the gun and we have great detective work, and the mystery is solved!" McCarthy said.

Ben was convicted of first-degree murder Wednesday.

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