Four Arrested in Connection with Clear Spring Triple Murder and Arson

Maryland State Police Homicide Unit investigators have apprehended four individuals in connection with a fatal house fire that resulted in the deaths of three people in Washington County. The arrests follow an investigation into a single-family residence fire reported on November 18 in Clear Spring, where initial findings indicated foul play beyond the blaze. Authorities have stated that additional arrests are anticipated as the investigation continues.

The individuals arrested have been identified as Darnell Hawkins, 47, of Baltimore; Tony Smith, 43, of Hagerstown; Maurice Mouzon, 46, of Baltimore; and Kierra White, 35, of Glen Burnie. All four are reportedly being held without bond. Hawkins was taken into custody on November 28 in Baltimore County and faces charges including three counts of first-degree murder and one count of first-degree arson. Smith was arrested in Montgomery County on November 23 and is also charged with three counts of first-degree murder and one count of first-degree arson. Mouzon was arrested in Baltimore City on November 21 and is charged with conspiracy to commit armed robbery, distribution of narcotics, and a handgun violation. He is also facing additional charges related to the possession of narcotics with intent to distribute, discovered during his arrest. White was arrested in Baltimore County on November 25 and is charged with acting as an accessory after the fact to murder.

The victims of the incident have been identified as Brittany Ray, 31, Harold Fliechman, 36, and Brianna Mae Weishaar, 25, all residents of Clear Spring. Emergency medical personnel pronounced all three deceased at the scene. The official cause and manner of their deaths are awaiting the results of autopsies performed by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore.

The incident came to light shortly after 5:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 18, when deputies from the Office of the State Fire Marshal responded to a fire at a home on National Pike in Clear Spring. During their initial assessment, investigators discovered evidence of suspicious activity. These findings included K-9 alerts for accelerants, indicating the presence of flammable substances used to start or spread the fire, and trauma to the victims that appeared inconsistent with injuries typically sustained in a fire.

Following these discoveries, the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit was brought in to lead the investigation. A search warrant was subsequently executed, and the scene was processed by investigators from both the Office of the State Fire Marshal and the Maryland State Police. Preliminary findings suggest that the three victims resided at the property where the incident occurred and that the violence was not random.

The investigation remains ongoing and is being conducted collaboratively by the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit and various allied law enforcement agencies. These include the Office of the State Fire Marshal, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Hagerstown Police Department, and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. Support for the investigation is also being provided by the Office of the State’s Attorney in Washington County. Maryland State Police are urging anyone with information relevant to this case to contact the Maryland State Police Hagerstown Barrack at 301-766-3800. All calls can be kept confidential.

Article by Ken Buckler, based upon information from Maryland State Police

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