The victim was found in a car parked a field in Walkersville in Jan., 2024.
Keon Naki WIlson-Hawkins (Photo Frederick County State’s Attorney’s Office)
Frederick, Md (KM) In Frederick County Circuit Court on Friday, a Baltimore man was sentenced to 85 years for his role in a homicide two years ago. Judge Scott Rolle sentenced Keon Naki Wilson-Hawkins, 20, to life with all but 65 years suspended for the 1st-degree murder of Brice Wendell Boots, 66, of PIkesville. Wilson-Hawkins was also given 20 years consecutive for kidnapping. He was ordered to serve ten years concurrently for carjacking.
He was convicted of those charges on July 9th, 2025.
The Frederick County State’s Attorney’s Office says on January 10th, 2024, Boots’ body was found inside a vehicle parked in a field in Walkersville 650 feet away from the roadway with mud and blood inside. The caller who reported it told the Sheriff’s Office that the car had been parked there since 7:00 AM that day with its flashers on.
Boots had been undergoing a contentious divorce prior to his murder, and expressed fear for his life from his estranged wife identified as Frances Virginia Hamilton. She was found deceased on February 24th in Anne Arundel County. Her cause of death was ruled as suicide..
A grand jury on March 8th, returned an indictment against Wilson-Hawkins for 1st-degree murder, conspiracy to commit 1st-degree murder, kidnapping and carjacking
“A lot of effort by the prosecution went into this conviction and sentencing. It was a great deal of evidence,” says State’s Attorney Charlie Smith, in a statement. “While 85 years is a lengthy sentence, the family and prosecutors were hoping for a LWOP {Life Without Parole} sentence. Now, the family will have to endure this Defendant getting a ‘Second Look’ to seek a sentence reduction after serving only 20 years.”
During the court proceedings, the victim’s cousin described how this crime affected her family. She told the court: “My cousin Brice cared deeply for his family and friends. He was brutally taken away from us and we are left with a deep emptiness. The brutal way he was taken will forever be burned into our memories.”
By Kevin McManus