by Geoff Fox
Maryland State Police State Police have made four arrests in connection with a November fatal fire in Clear Spring that claimed three lives.
Investigators from the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit made the arrests and the suspects are being held without bond in connection with the triple murder/house fire.
Police identified the three victims, all of Clear Spring, as Brittany Ray, 31, Harold Flichman, 36, and Brianna Mae Weishaar, 25.
All three victims were pronounced deceased on the scene by emergency medical service personnel.
The cause and manner of death are pending autopsy results from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore.
Police said more arrests are expected.
Police identified the suspects they have arrested as Darnell (aka Donnell) Hawkins, 47, of Baltimore; Tony Smith, 43, of Hagerstown; Maurice Mouszon, 46, of Baltimore; and Kierra White, 35, of Glen Burnie.
Hawkins was arrested on November 28 in Baltimore County and is charged with three counts of first-degree murder, one count of first degree-arson, and related offenses. Police said he is being held in the Baltimore County Detention Center without bond.
Smith was arrested in Montgomery County on November 23 and charged with three counts of first-degree murder, one count of first-degree arson, and related offenses. He is being held at the Montgomery County Detention Center without bond.
Mouzon was arrested in Baltimore City on November 21 and is charged with conspiracy to commit armed robbery, distribution of narcotics, and a handgun violation.
He is also facing separate charges in relation to possession with intent to distribute narcotics located during his arrest. Mouzon is being held at the Baltimore Central Booking Intake Facility without bond.
White was arrested on November 25 in Baltimore County and charged with acting as an accessory after the fact to murder. She is being held at the Washington County Detention Center without bond.
Fire response
Shortly after 5 a.m. on Tuesday, November 18, deputies from the State Fire Marshal’s Office responded to a single-story single-family residence in the 13000 block of National Pike in Clear Spring for a reported fatal structure fire.
During the initial investigation, signs of foul play were discovered to include K-9 alerts for accelerants at the home and trauma to the victims that were inconsistent with fire-related injuries.
The Maryland State Homicide Unit was requested to respond to the scene and assume the investigation, police said.
A search warrant was executed and the scene was processed by investigators from the Office of the State Fire Marshal and Maryland State Police.
The preliminary investigation indicated the three victims lived at the home where the incident occurred and investigators believe the incident was not a random act of violence.
The investigation remains active and is being conducted by the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit and law enforcement including the Office of the State Fire Marshal, FBI, Hagerstown Police Department, and the Washington County Sheriff’s Department, with support from the Office of the State’s Attorney in Washington County.
State Police investigators anticipate additional arrests and urge members of the public with pertinent information related to the investigation to contact the Maryland State Police Hagerstown Barrack at 301-766-3800. Calls may remain confidential.
