Police: Drug Dealer Fatally Stabbed Cleaning Woman

A cleaning woman whose body was found at the Medical Arts Centre of Glen Burnie was stabbed to death by a Pasadena man she knew from the illegal drug trade, police said Friday.

The homicide victim, Christie Lynn Pelland, 43, of Pasadena worked for Spiritual Cleaning, Anne Arundel County Police said. Pelland cleaned several of the offices inside the building where she was found Monday morning.

Pelland was stopped by police in a traffic stop after a May 3 shooting at the Royal Farms store in Glen Burnie, but detectives had not linked her as a suspect in the shooting, police said Tuesday. Pelland was arrested as a result of the traffic stop for two outstanding warrants on a drug-related charge.

Detectives investigated both Pelland’s death and the shooting at the Royal Farms store to determine if they are related and what role, if any, the earlier crime may have played in her death.

Friday afternoon police said suspect Joseph Patrick Soule, 25, of 1737 Poplar Ridge Road in Pasadena was an associate of the victim and targeted the attack on Pelland. The victim was robbed was a result of the attack, police said.

Soule was charged with second-degree murder, first- and second-degree assault and reckless endangerment in Pelland's death. He is in custody at the Jennifer Road Detention Center. Police said additional charges are likely.