Bobby Damont Gross will spend more than 20 years behind bars for fatally stabbing 25-year-old Todd Ehardt in a Manassas parking lot in August 2023, after Ehardt showed up to confront Gross about issues involving a family member. Gross pulled a knife during the encounter and stabbed Ehardt in the chest, a wound that severed his trachea and left him bleeding uncontrollably before he collapsed and was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.
Gross pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and stabbing in the commission of murder, and was sentenced to 45 years in prison with 23 years suspended, according to DC News Now. That leaves him with more than 20 years of active prison time, followed by five years of supervised probation once he is released. Prince William County Commonwealth's Attorney Amy Ashworth announced the sentence, saying it reflects “the seriousness of the offense and its lasting impact on Todd Ehardt's family and the community.”
The stabbing happened at approximately 10:20 p.m. on August 25, 2023, in a commercial parking lot in the 7400 block of Sudley Road, according to WUSA9. Responding officers found Ehardt suffering from a chest wound before he was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced deceased. Ashworth said the prosecution “brought accountability for the actions that took Todd Ehardt's life,” calling his death “a senseless act of violence.”
A Suspect Already Wanted for a Prior Stabbing
Gross was not a stranger to Prince William County Police when Ehardt was killed. At the time of the fatal stabbing, he was already wanted for allegedly stabbing a 26-year-old man multiple times in a wooded area on Stream Walk Lane in Manassas just weeks earlier, on June 4, 2023, according to Daily Voice. Police had charged him with aggravated malicious wounding in that earlier case, and he remained at large in the Manassas area when the confrontation with Ehardt turned deadly.
Detectives moved quickly after Ehardt's death, obtaining arrest warrants for second-degree murder and stabbing in the commission of a felony. Prince William County Police had offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to Gross's arrest, and he was taken into custody without incident in Manassas on August 26, 2023, according to Bristow Beat. At the time of his arrest, the 24-year-old was going by the alias “Davon Green” and was listed as having no fixed address, per Patch.
Remembering Todd Ehardt
Ehardt, a 2016 graduate of Battlefield High School who worked in construction, was remembered by his family as a protective big brother who frequently helped people experiencing homelessness and stood up for the less fortunate, Daily Voice reported. He was survived by his sister, Emily, and brother, Sean.
How Virginia Law Shaped the Sentence
Gross's sentence followed his conviction for second-degree murder. Virginia's felony sentencing guidelines use historically grounded calculations and include 100% to 500% enhancements for violent offenders generally, according to guidance from the Virginia General Assembly.
Gross's sentence included substantial active time paired with suspended years and five years of supervised probation after his release.
A County Reporting Fewer Homicides
Ehardt's killing occurred in Prince William County in 2023. Homicides in the county dropped 68%, from 25 recorded in 2023 to eight in 2025, with county police achieving a 100% clearance rate for all homicides last year, according to Potomac Local News. Violent crime in the county also fell by nearly 19% in 2025 compared to 2024, according to Potomac Local News.
