Murder Victim's Photo Released, Police Ask for Help: Update

Updated at 2:25 p.m.

ANNAPOLIS, MD — A woman whose decomposing body was found behind a Parole business has been identified as a Baltimore County resident who was stabbed to death, authorities said Friday.

The victim is Holly Carol Smith, 24, who used to live in the 900 block of Holgate Drive in Essex, according to the Anne Arundel County Police Department. A man in custody on the Eastern Shore has reportedly confessed to the murder.

About 2:20 p.m. Tuesday, Smith’s remains were found in the wooded area in the 2000 block of Industrial Drive behind Premier Fitness gym by a person walking in the area.

On Wednesday, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner performed an autopsy on the victim. The autopsy said Smith suffered puncture/stab wounds to her upper body and the death was a homicide.

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Detectives have notified Smith’s next of kin and are working to learn where she had recently lived. Police are also looking for any witnesses who may have seen Smith in the last week, authorities released her photo Friday afternoon in hopes of finding people who saw her recently.

Homicide detectives ask anyone who recognizes Smith or has any information -- even if you don't think it's valuable -- to call (410) 222-4731 or the TipLine (410) 222-4700.

The suspect was identified as Christopher Allen Scheibe, 28, with no fixed address; he was wanted on unrelated charges. Early Thursday morning, homicide officers from Anne Arundel County and Maryland State Police took Scheibe into custody in the 3000 block of Warwick Road of East New Market.

Scheibe reportedly confessed to homicide detectives that he killed Holly Carol Smith. An arrest warrant was obtained charging him with Smith’s murder.

Schiebe is still in jail on the Eastern Shore; he faces Anne Arundel County charges of first- and second-degree murder and first- and second-degree assault.

Police ask anyone with information to call the Anne Arundel County Homicide Unit at 410-222- 4731.

To share tips anonymously, contact the Anne Arundel County Police Tip at Line 410-222- 4700 or Metro Crime Stoppers at 1-866- 7LOCKUP or text “MCS plus your message” to CRIMES (274637).

»Photos of murder victim Holly Smith, suspect Christopher Scheibe, courtesy of Anne Arundel County Police