A house fire in the Washington County town of Clear Spring that initially appeared to be a tragic accident has now become the focus of a triple murder investigation, according to Maryland State Police (MSP).
The fire, which erupted in the early hours of Nov. 18, claimed the lives of three residents, and investigators later determined that foul play was involved.
Authorities announced on Saturday that four individuals have been arrested in connection with the deadly fire, which occurred on the 13000 block of National Pike.
The arrests took place between Nov. 21 and Friday, and the suspects have been identified as Darnell Hawkins, 47, of Baltimore; Tony Smith, 43, of Hagerstown; Maurice Mouzon, 46, of Baltimore; and Kierra White, 35, of Glen Burnie.
Hawkins and Smith face the most serious charges, including three counts of first-degree murder, first-degree arson, and other related offenses. Maurice Mouzon has been charged with conspiracy to commit armed robbery, distribution of narcotics, and a handgun violation, while Kierra White, the only female suspect, is charged with acting as an accessory after the fact to murder.
The victims of the fire were identified as Brittany Ray, 31, Harold Flichman, 36, and Brianna Mae Weishaar, 25. All three were residents of the house, and police noted that initial findings from the scene raised immediate concerns.
A K-9 unit discovered accelerants within the home, and evidence of trauma on the victims suggested injuries inconsistent with fire-related causes. These findings prompted investigators to treat the fire as a deliberate act rather than an accident.
“Investigators believe this was not a random act of violence,” Maryland State Police stated on Saturday, emphasizing the deliberate nature of the crime. Autopsy results from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore are still pending, and investigators are awaiting additional forensic information to further clarify the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
The fire drew a significant emergency response, with 60 firefighters from 13 local fire services working to contain the blaze. Despite the severity of the fire, which destroyed much of the home, responders were able to extinguish it within approximately 30 minutes.
Two dogs were rescued from the scene and transported to the SPCA for care, underscoring the devastating impact the fire had on both human and animal residents.
The four suspects are currently being held without bond at separate detention facilities across Maryland, including the Baltimore County and Montgomery County detention centers, the Baltimore Central Booking Intake Facility, and the Washington County Detention Center.
