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Terrell Anthony Duckett, 26, was charged by depute state fire marshals in St. Mary’s County following a lengthy investigation into a March 2022 Lexington Park fire where multiple items were stolen.
On Wednesday, March 21, crews from the Bay District Volunteer Fire Department responded to Valley Court, where there was a reported apartment fire.
Upon arrival, officials said that firefighters located the origin of the blaze inside a bedroom closet that had been extinguished due to a sprinkler system activating, prompting further investigation.
Deputy state fire marshals determined that a suspect - later identified as Duckett - allegedly intentionally started the fire after burglarizing the apartment, though the sprinkler system helped contain the damage to around $3,000, according to investigators.
The occupant of the apartment advised investigators that he had discovered several items, including big screen televisions, cell phones, and an Xbox and PlayStation, had been stolen, the fire marshal said.
Those electronics were later found at a local pawn shop, whose owner was able to identify Duckett as the person who pawned the items.
Duckett who is currently being held at St. Mary’s Detention Center on unrelated charges, is now facing new charges that include:
- First-degree arson;
- First-degree burglary;
- Second-degree malicious burning;
- Malicious destruction of property under $1,000;
- Theft of under $1,500.
“Arson investigations are lengthy and arduous, but in this case, the activation of a sprinkler system can be credited on many levels,” State Fire Marshal Brian S. Geraci said.
“The sprinkler system not only extinguished the fire but also minimized the damage, allowed multiple tenants to remain in their homes, and assisted in identifying the cause as well as stolen items that may have otherwise been lost in the fire."
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