Boyds driver gets five years for fatal crash that killed 71-year-old woman

A Montgomery County judge sentenced Brody Richardson, 20, to five years in prison for the July 2025 crash that killed Mary Elizabeth Moody. The 71-year-old woman died after Richardson’s vehicle struck her car while she was making a left turn. Prosecutors announced the sentence on Monday following a Friday court hearing.

Judge David Lease also ordered Richardson to serve five years of supervised probation upon his release from prison. Richardson pleaded guilty in August to one count of grossly negligent manslaughter by motor vehicle and one count of homicide by motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol.

Police data indicated Richardson was traveling at approximately 94 mph northbound on Great Seneca Highway in Germantown around 10:30 p.m. on July 21, 2025. His Mazda 3 collided with the Subaru Forester driven by Moody, which was turning onto Mateny Road. Richardson admitted to consuming alcohol and cannabis before the accident, with a blood alcohol concentration of .20 at the time of the crash.

Surveillance footage and a receipt from Travilah Beer & Wine in Rockville showed Richardson purchased five beers between 6:57 p.m. and 10:17 p.m. that day. Two employees of the store pleaded guilty to selling alcohol to a person under 21. Each received three years of supervised probation and 200 hours of community service.

The crash occurred on a residential stretch of highway where Moody attempted to cross Richardson’s path. The speed of Richardson’s vehicle left little time for the other driver to react or avoid the impact. The legal proceedings concluded with Richardson’s custodial sentence and the additional conditions of his post-release supervision.