Horrifying discovery after a man asked police for a cigarette in exchange for information about an ‘incident’ involving his wife

Last week, 30-year-old Dennis Hinnant Jr. of Silver Spring was found guilty of second-degree murder for killing his wife, 28-year-old Taresha Pendarvis. He faces up to 40 years in prison.

Per Public prosecutorHinnant showed up at the Rockville City police station on February 1, 2023, holding a baby and saying he wanted to turn himself in.

Hinnant reportedly told authorities he would talk if they gave him a cigarette and told officers, “I know you won’t let me out here,” according to charging documents Law and crime. He allegedly alluded to “an incident” and said he would not reveal more information until he had a chance to smoke.

“Hinnant insisted that he wanted to smoke a cigarette, but was informed that no one currently working had a cigarette,” the document states. “Hinnant stated that if he were given a cigarette he would give the location of the incident. At this time, Hinnant was not in police custody and was told he could leave at any time.”

He didn’t leave, however, but instead told officers “that they needed to speak with a homicide detective about something that had happened hours earlier in Silver Spring,” according to the prosecutor. Hinnant then gave officers his wife’s address before a welfare check there led to a horrific discovery.

“They found (Pendarvis) the deceased in the bathtub. She was stabbed multiple times and strangled with a belt,” the prosecutor said. “When interviewed, he said they had argued about their marriage before the murder. Pendarvis’ baby was not physically harmed and was removed from Hinnant’s care following his arrest.”

According to charging documents, Hinnant later told police he and his wife were arguing about a “possible divorce” when things “boiled over” and she began throwing away his belongings. “Hinnant then stated that things were going south and he felt they had both lost consciousness. Hinnant also stated that he failed,” authorities said.

“We remain committed to vigorously prosecuting domestic violence in all forms. The defendant was rightly convicted of murder and we will seek the maximum sentence under the law,” District Attorney John McCarthy said in a statement.

Hinnant will be sentenced on July 18, 2024.