Last Friday afternoon, officers from the Prince George’s County Police Department visited a home in Landover, Md., after a 911 caller said he had not heard from 71-year-old Margaret Craig.
Upon entering the basement of the home on the 200 block of Hill Road, officers smelled “the odor of decomposition,” and they continued to discover disturbing facts about what happened there.
According to charging documents cited by WTOP, Craig’s accused her 44-year-old daughter, Candace, of credit card fraud and Candace allegedly proceeded to kill her. These documents also allege that Candace’s 19-year-old daughter Salia Hardy, of helping to dismember and dispose of the body.
Assistant State’s Attorney Jessica Garth said that authorities believe the women used a chainsaw on the corpse and “then attempted to dispose of the parts of the body using fire on a grill and in a bonfire.”
WTOP said that one of the fires was “set as far back as May 27,” and police said evidence suggests Margaret Craig was murdered May 23.
When police arrived at Hill Road last week, “Candace Craig answered the door and allowed patrol officers access to the home,” so they could search for her mother.
“The body was in such bad shape that the actual decedent has not been positively identified – but prosecutors are confident that DNA testing will affirm the remains are Margaret’s,” said WTOP. Police said the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will confirm the victim’s identity and attempt to identify the cause of death.
“The detectives of the Homicide Unit will ensure a thorough investigation is conducted and that both suspects are held accountable for their cruel and criminal behavior,” said Major David Blazer, Commander, Major Crimes Division.
Candace Craig was charged with first- and second-degree murder. Hardy is charged with accessory after the fact. Both were in the custody in the Prince George’s County Department of Corrections as of Saturday.
Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact 301-516-2512.
Callers can remain anonymous by calling Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477), by going online at www.pgcrimesolvers.com, or by using the “P3 Tips” mobile app (search “P3 Tips” in the Apple Store or Google Play to download the app onto your mobile device) and referring to case number 23-0032523.
“When you’re talking about your elderly parents, as they get older, it’s our duty as children to protect our parents, and certainly our duty to not murder them and to then dispose of them in such a gruesome way,” said Garth.
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