Two Deaths at Severn House Fire Deemed Suspicious

SEVERN, MD — The deaths of two people in a Severn home Thursday are suspicious, authorities say, and Anne Arundel County Police homicide detectives have now taken the lead in the investigation.

Authorities are working to identify a woman’s body found Thursday in the residence in the 1200 block of Old Camp Meade Road, along with the remains of a male found Friday.

The Anne Arundel County Fire Department responded to the dwelling fire about 3:40 a.m. Thursday. The residence was being renovated after it had been damaged in a previous fire in February 2015.

Once firefighters had the fire under control, they found a woman’s body on the first floor of the residence. Fire personnel then requested help from the Anne Arundel County Police Department’s Homicide Unit.

The woman’s remains were taken to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore for an autopsy to help identify the victim. Several animal remains were also recovered from the fire scene.

SEE ALSO: Second Fire at Severn House Kills One, One Missing (Update)

Firefighters had to stabilize the ruins of the house to search for a second victim presumed to have perished in the house, so they didn’t enter the building Thursday.

On Friday, trained cadaver dogs from Bay Area Recovery Canines went through the debris with the Anne Arundel County Fire Department /Fire Marshall’s office and homicide detectives.

The county’s Department of Public Works used large equipment to help remove heavy debris and secure dangerous areas within the residence. Once the scene was secured, firefighter recruits sifted through the rubble in search of any evidence and or victims.

About 11:55 a.m. Friday, the body of an unidentified white male was located in the rubble by Fire Department personnel. Evidence in the area of the body was collected that connects to the death investigation.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner took the male remains to Baltimore so an autopsy could be performed Saturday. The Anne Arundel County Police Homicide Unit is also assisting with the identification of the male found in the residence.

At this point in the joint investigation between the Police and Fire Departments, the police department is assuming command of the investigation. There are several suspicious factors about the deaths, coupled with evidence recovered from the scene, police say.

Anne Arundel County Police ask anyone with information about the fire to call Homicide Detective Dan Myers at 410-222-3413.

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

»Photo of fatal Severn fire scene, from Anne Arundel County Fire Twitter feed