Ex-Basketball Star Brutally Murdered by Roommate with a Cinder Block

A horrifying murder case that stunned Baltimore and the college basketball community has come to a grim conclusion: the man convicted of killing former Loyola University star Jamal Barney will spend the rest of his life behind bars.

Dayrel McFarland has been sentenced to life in prison, plus three additional years, after being found guilty of first-degree murder and carrying a deadly weapon with intent to injure, the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office announced on Friday.

Barney, a former standout at Loyola University Maryland, went missing in September 2023. Nine days later, disturbing tips led police to a vacant row home on North Payson Street, where the gruesome truth was uncovered.

According to authorities, officers were met with a foul odor inside the abandoned property. Upstairs, they discovered a heavily decomposed body stuffed inside a mattress and covered with clothing and blankets. The level of decomposition was so advanced that the victim couldn’t be immediately identified, and there were no clear signs of trauma—at least at first.

However, investigators soon noticed a massive hole in one of the bedroom walls, with blood spatter in the adjacent rooms. Nearby, they found two cinder blocks, a concrete paver, and blood-stained carpet remnants. A medical examiner later confirmed the body was Barney’s, identifying him through his tattoos. The cause of death was determined to be blunt force trauma to the head.

A witness came forward and told police that McFarland, Barney’s roommate, had confessed to the killing. The witness said McFarland used a cinder block to beat Barney, and shockingly claimed Barney “was still letting air out for two days” before dying. McFarland reportedly hid the body in a mattress and tried to destroy evidence with acid.

McFarland initially denied involvement, but DNA evidence linked him to the cinder block used in the attack. He was convicted earlier this year and has continued to maintain his innocence.

Jamal Barney, remembered for his explosive scoring ability, played two seasons at Loyola between 2008 and 2010. He scored over 1,000 points for the school and notched two 40-point games during his college career.

“It is my hope that this sentence brings a measure of justice for the senseless and tragic loss of Jamal Barney,” Baltimore City State’s Attorney Ivan Bates said in a statement. “He was taken from his family and loved ones in an exceedingly cruel and brutal manner.”