Kensington man convicted of ‘depraved heart’ murder

A Montgomery County jury convicted a Kensington man of fatally shooting his friend in the head with a shotgun in 2025, prosecutors said on Monday.

Benjamin Dresbach, 23, of Kensington, was found guilty on Thursday of second-degree depraved-heart murder — the killing of another person while acting with an extreme disregard for human life.

He was also found guilty of the use of a firearm in the commission of a crime of violence and possession of a short-barreled rifle in the Jan. 13, 2025, death of Trevor Van Devander, 29.

Dresbach faces a maximum of 65 years in prison. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Dec. 18.

Montgomery County Police responded to the 3900 block of Franklin Street in Kensington after Dresbach called 911 to report that he had shot his friend.

Officers searched the house and located Van Devander in the basement. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Dresbach told investigators that an altercation between him and Van Devander led to the shooting.

Dresbach’s lawyer could not be immediately reached on Monday afternoon.