Suspects Of MD Homicide Arrested In AZ Years After Remains Of Missing Woman Found: Police

SHADY SIDE, MD — Police announced that two suspects in a 2017 homicide in Anne Arundel County, Maryland were arrested Wednesday in Pima County, Arizona.

Officers identified the arrestees as Tucson, Arizona residents Christina Gail Harnish, 45, and Williams Eugene Rice Jr., 46. The duo is currently awaiting extradition to Maryland for their trials.

Authorities said they think the suspects are "responsible for the murder of Megan Tilman," who was reported missing about four years ago in Annapolis, Maryland.

Police heard about the potential recovery of human remains in Shady Side, Maryland on Oct. 18, 2017 around 1:30 p.m. Officers responded to the area of Holly and Chesapeake Drive. Patrol officers, detectives and members of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources said they searched the shoreline and eventually found additional human skeletal remains.

The Maryland Office of the Chief Medical Examiner inspected the body and ruled the death a homicide, a press release said. Examiners speculated that the victim was a white, Hispanic or Asian woman who was likely between her mid-20s and 30 years old. Inspectors also estimated that she was between 5-foot-3 and 5-foot-5 inches tall.

The Anne Arundel County Police Department learned that the Annapolis Police Department filed a missing person’s report on Nov. 1, 2017. A family member told authorities that they last heard from Tilman on Sept. 26, 2017, the release said.

Detectives took DNA samples from Tilman's family to compare them with the remains. Investigators said they then positively identified the remains as those of Tilman.

Officers followed leads, examined evidence and interviewed witnesses as well as people of interest over the past few years. Police secured the arrest warrants on Jan. 19. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department served those warrants this week, the release said.

"The outcome of this investigation would not have been possible if not for the tenacity of the Anne Arundel County Homicide Unit, the guidance from the Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney’s Office, assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the cooperation and assistance of the Pima County Sherriff’s Department," the Anne Arundel County Police Department said in a statement.

The agency still asked anybody with information to call 410-222-4731. Tipsters can stay anonymous by dialing the Tip Line at 410-222-4700 or Metro Crime Stoppers of Maryland at 1-866-7LOCKUP.

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