Woman Sentenced In Edgewood Fire That Killed 4 Townhome Residents

BEL AIR, MD — A judge has sentenced an Edgewood woman found guilty of arson and felony murder in a 2019 townhome fire that killed four residents.

Harford County Judge Paul Ishak sentenced Bobbie Sue Hodge, 63, to four consecutive life sentences plus 20 years.

Hodge was found guilty in October of arson in the first degree, four counts of felony murder and three counts of assault in the second degree. The charges stem from a fire that occurred on May 9, 2019, at 1862 Simons Court in Edgewood.

Ernest Lee, Dionne Hill, and Kimberly Shupe, who were on the third floor of the structure, died in the fire. Mary Elizabeth Kennedy, who lived on the second floor, was rescued by firefighters and taken to an area hospital for treatment. She died from her injuries on Jan. 22, 2020, authorities said.

Another third-floor occupant, Marquise St. John, was able to escape the fire by jumping out of his third floor bedroom window. He suffered a broken ankle and arm.

Hodge and two other residents who were in the basement were able to escape the fire.

Nine people were living in the house at the time of the blaze, and officials said eight people were home when the fire broke out about 2:30 a.m.

Members of the Joppa-Magnolia Volunteer Fire Department were the first engine to respond to the fire. By 2:35 a.m., when the Joppa-Magnolia Volunteer Fire Department arrived, the third floor of the townhouse was completely engulfed in fire. Abingdon Volunteer Fire Department, Bel Air Volunteer Fire Department, Aberdeen Proving Ground Fire Department and Baltimore County-Kingsville Volunteer Fire Department also responded to the fire.

According to Maryland State Fire Marshal Brian Geraci, the townhouse was operating as an "illegal group home." He described it as a lodging and rooming house, based on the number of people living there.

To be in compliance with Maryland code, Geraci told Patch that the townhouse needed a complete residential complete sprinkler system, fire alarm and smoke alarms through the house, including in the sleeping areas.

"If a sprinkler system was in place, these folks would not have lost their lives," Geraci said.

The Maryland State Fire Marshal, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosions, and the Harford County Sheriff’s Office investigated the fire. After interviewing numerous witnesses including those who lived in the house, neighbors and Hodge, review of the 911 calls and consulting with experts at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosions, Hodge was arrested for arson and murder.

“This tragedy shocked our Harford County community,” said Albert J. Peisinger, Jr., State’s Attorney for Harford County. “It is my hope that this verdict and now sentence is a step towards healing for the surviving victims and the families of those who lost loved ones.”

Hodge received a life sentence for each count of felony murder, five years for the assault in the second degree on Brenda Ayres, five years for the assault in the second degree on Dustin Gerhart and 10 years for the assault in the second degree on St. John.

Related: Guilty Verdicts In Edgewood Townhome Fire That Killed 4 Residents