Partly Cloudy 57°
News
Woman Conspiring To Throw Molotov Cocktail Through Maryland Window Sentenced: Prosecutors Woman Conspiring To Throw Molotov Cocktail Through Maryland Window Sentenced: Prosecutors
Woman Conspiring To Throw Molotov Cocktail Through Maryland Window Sentenced: Prosecutors A 44-year-old woman implicated in a fire-bombing in Howard County more than two years ago has been sentenced to decades in prison, the state's attorney's office announced. Shannon Marie Williams has been sentenced to 115 years in prison, with all but 50 years suspended, for her role in an arson incident that was reported in April 2022. At approximately 3 a.m. on April 5, 2022, prosecutors say that Williams conspired with two others to kill a person by throwing a molotov cocktail into the window of an apartment at the Bluffs of Hawthorn in the 10000 block of Hickory Ridge Circle in Columbia.…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Man Living In Back Of Maryland Business Intentionally Set Blaze In Apartment: Fire Marshal Man Living In Back Of Maryland Business Intentionally Set Blaze In Apartment: Fire Marshal
Man Living In Back Of Maryland Business Intentionally Set Blaze In Apartment: Fire Marshal A man living in the back apartment of a commercial building in Northern Maryland is facing multiple counts of arson for allegedly intentionally setting a blaze that caused thousands in damages, the fire marshal announced. Julian Cookerly, 32, was arrested on Tuesday following a months-long investigation into a questionable fire that had multiple points of origin and was sparked in September last year in Kent County. First responders from the Church Hill Volunteer Fire Department were called in the afternoon of Sept. 27, 2023 to Church Alley in Chestertown, where there was a reported fire. …

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Firebug With Fitting Name Arrested For Torching Rented Bedroom: Maryland Fire Marshal Firebug With Fitting Name Arrested For Torching Rented Bedroom: Maryland Fire Marshal
Firebug With Fitting Name Arrested For Torching Rented Bedroom: Maryland Fire Marshal Wendy Hope Firebaugh wrapped up 2023 in a fiery way and is spending the beginning of 2024 behind bars after setting an intentional fire inside a home she was renting in Maryland. The 64-year-old woman has been arrested on multiple counts of arson following an investigation into a fire that broke out inside a St. Mary's County home while two others were inside the residence, according to the state Fire Marshal. Officials say that Firebaugh was arrested over the weekend after fire investigators determined she intentionally sparked the blaze inside a bedroom of the Mechanicsville home. Shortl…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
News
Arsonist, 25, Booted By Brother Torches Trailer In Hagerstown: Cops Arsonist, 25, Booted By Brother Torches Trailer In Hagerstown: Cops
Arsonist, 25, Booted By Brother Torches Trailer In Hagerstown: Cops A Hagerstown man has been charged with setting fire to his brother's utility trailer hauling brush this week, authorities announced. Christian Reyes Torres, 25, had been staying with his brother but was asked to leave on Thursday, Dec. 14, the State Fire Marshal's Office said. Torres later returned and began arguing with family members, and threatened to burn down the house, officials said. It wasn't long before it was discovered that Torres' brother's trailer was found engulfed in flames, along with the brush and tree limbs it had been hauling, officials said. Firefighters extinguished t…

SHARE

by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Fair Lawn Native Critically Burned Fighting Baltimore Fire Succumbs To His Injuries Fair Lawn Native Critically Burned Fighting Baltimore Fire Succumbs To His Injuries
Fair Lawn Native Critically Burned Fighting Baltimore Fire Succumbs To His Injuries A Fair Lawn native who was critically injured trying to rescue a brother firefighter in a blaze in Baltimore has tragically made the ultimate sacrifice. Fire Lt. Dillion Rinaldo succumbed to his injuries Tuesday night, Oct. 24, five days after a rowhouse blaze claimed the life of a fellow smoke eater whom he and his colleagues had gone back in to save. "To the Rinaldo family, we are at a loss for words," the Fair Lawn Fire Department wrote in a social media post. "Your son Dillon will never be forgotten," the post reads. "He had the biggest heart and would literally help anyone in need. Al…

SHARE

by Jerry DeMarco
News
Former Police Chief In Maryland Gets Eight Life Sentences For Targeted Revenge Arson Attacks Former Police Chief In Maryland Gets Eight Life Sentences For Targeted Revenge Arson Attacks
Former Police Chief In Maryland Gets Eight Life Sentences For Targeted Revenge Arson Attacks A judge in Maryland turned up the heat on a former police chief who was convicted of intentionally setting multiple fires as a means of revenge during a near decade-long crime spree. Former Laurel Police Chief David Crawford, of Ellicott City, 71, will likely spend the rest of his days with some of the people he helped lock up after being sentenced to eight life sentences, plus 75 years in prison, for a serial arson case, the Howard County State's Attorney's Office announced on Tuesday, June 27. The State's Attorney's Office noted that "Crawfords actual executable prison sentence is two ye…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Man Found In Burning Apartment Was Shot, Killed In MD, Police Say Man Found In Burning Apartment Was Shot, Killed In MD, Police Say
Man Found In Burning Apartment Was Shot, Killed In MD, Police Say It didn't take long for police in Prince George's County to apprehend a man wanted for allegedly fatally shooting a man whose body was found in a burning apartment earlier this week.  Lanham resident Marcel Billups, 40, is facing multiple murder charges after being connected to the death of 56-year-old Roger Neal, of Hyattsville, authorities announced on Friday, May 5. The investigation was launched shortly after 2 p.m. on Wednesday, May 3, when officers with the Hyattsville Police Department were called to the 6100 block of 42nd Avenue to assist Prince George's County firefighters who wer…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
News
Kidnapper Who Killed, Burned Victim In MD Over Reported Stolen Cell Phone Dispute Convicted Kidnapper Who Killed, Burned Victim In MD Over Reported Stolen Cell Phone Dispute Convicted
Kidnapper Who Killed, Burned Victim In MD Over Reported Stolen Cell Phone Dispute Convicted Years after the grisly murder of a mother who was found dead nude inside a burning, vacant home in Maryland, a second suspect will face justice for her role in the fatal 2018 kidnapping, Baltimore City State’s Attorney Ivan Bates announced. Bobie Barncord, 33, of Glen Burnie was found guilty of all counts for the murder of 29-year-old Tiffany Jones in August 2018, who was kidnapped and left for dead inside a burning building. On Aug. 21, 2018, prosecutors say that members of the Baltimore Police Department were alerted that Jones had been taken at knifepoint by a man known only as “Philly” …

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Arsonist Admits To Torching Temple Hills Apartment Arsonist Admits To Torching Temple Hills Apartment
Arsonist Admits To Torching Temple Hills Apartment A Temple Hills man has been charged with intentionally setting an apartment fire that caused upwards of a million dollars in damages and left several people without a home, according to officials. Local resident Anthony Cooper, 50, has been charged with arson and reckless endangerment after being identified by witnesses as a suspect who set an incendiary fire late on Thursday night in Temple Hills. The fire was reported at approximately 11:15 p.m. on Thursday, April 6, when first responders were called to the 3300 block of Huntley Square Drive, and Cooper was immediately identified as a su…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Arson Suspect Indicted After Anne Arundel Fire At Old Glen Burnie Fast Food Joint Arson Suspect Indicted After Anne Arundel Fire At Old Glen Burnie Fast Food Joint
Arson Suspect Indicted After Anne Arundel Fire At Old Glen Burnie Fast Food Joint The man who set fire behind an abandoned fast food restaurant in Maryland has been indicted by a grand jury on arson and other charges, officials announced. Pasadena resident Robert Lee Wagner, 39, is facing multiple charges for an incident in February when he allegedly set fire to a commercial shed behind Checkers on Mountain Road. It is alleged that shortly after 10 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 25, a passerby reported to the Anne Arundel County Fire Department that a miscellaneous debris stacked around the back of the abandoned restaurant had been tampered with. When firefighters arrived, the…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
News
Revengers Assemble: Shooter Seeking To Avenge Friend's Brother's Murder In Baltimore Convicted Revengers Assemble: Shooter Seeking To Avenge Friend's Brother's Murder In Baltimore Convicted
Revengers Assemble: Shooter Seeking To Avenge Friend's Brother's Murder In Baltimore Convicted On Jan 20, 2020, Murphy and Cornelius Bruce set out to seek revenge against Christopher Brown for the murder of the latter’s brother, Cordelle Bruce, the previous week. Prosecutors say that Murphy and Bruce drove a rented black Ford F-150 to the 1000 block of Reverdy Road, where they found Christopher Brown and began shooting at him. During the shootout, a bullet meant for Brown struck Cornelius Bruce, killing him. In an attempt to cover up the actions and dupe police investigators, Murphy then drove the rented pick-up truck with Bruce’s body inside to an abandoned field in the 2800 block o…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
News
Former Police Chief In Maryland Convicted Of Targeted Arson Attacks: State's Attorney Former Police Chief In Maryland Convicted Of Targeted Arson Attacks: State's Attorney
Former Police Chief In Maryland Convicted Of Targeted Arson Attacks: State's Attorney The Howard County State’s Attorney’s Office is seeking multiple life sentences for a former police chief in Maryland who was connected to a dozen different arson cases that spanned multiple counties over two decades. David Crawford, 71, was found guilty by a jury on multiple attempted murder and other charges for his lengthy crime spree that stretched out for years, Howard County State’s Attorney Rich Gibson announced on Thursday, March 9. Specifically, Crawford was found guilty on Thursday of: Eight counts of first-degree attempted murder; Three counts of first-degree arson; Malicious …

SHARE

by Zak Failla