A troubling case of familial violence has come to light in Landover, Maryland. A mother and her daughter are under arrest, charged with the alleged murder of a 71-year-old woman in their own home.
According to Prince George’s County Police Department, the accused are Candace Craig, 44, and her daughter, Salia Hardy, 19. The victim is believed to be Margaret Craig, Candace Craig’s mother and Salia Hardy’s grandmother.
This grim discovery occurred last Friday when local police performed a welfare check. This check was done in response to a 911 call from an unidentified person expressing worry about Margaret Craig. The caller indicated they had not been in contact with her for several days.
The police were let into the home by Candace Craig around 1:30 p.m. local time to check on her mother.
However, upon entering the basement, officers were met with a disturbing scene. They noted a strong stench of decay, an ominous sign that led the homicide unit to take control of the investigation.
Authorities collected evidence and conducted interviews, leading them to believe that Candace Craig had taken her mother’s life on May 23rd. Both her and her daughter attempted to dispose of the body the next day.
The identity of the deceased and the exact cause of death are still being determined.
As of the time when police shared their report on Saturday, the motive behind the alleged crime was still unknown.
Candace Craig is facing charges of first- and second-degree murder, while Salia Hardy is charged as an accessory after the fact.
Local authorities are encouraging anyone with information related to this chilling incident to reach out to Prince George’s County detectives or report tips anonymously through phone or online platforms.