Police in Maryland said that a mother and her teenaged daughter were both charged with murdering the 71-year old grandmother of the teenager’s mother.
According to a press release released by the Prince George’s County Police Department, on Saturday, Candace Craig was charged with murder in the first and second degrees, while Salia Hardy (19 years old) was charged as an accessory after the event.
According to an initial investigation, police believe that the victim was Margaret Craig. Candace Craig, Margaret’s granddaughter, is Hardy.
On Friday afternoon, police responded to the 200 block Hill Road to check on a 71-year old woman after a member of her family reported that he had not heard from her for several days.
Craig, 44, opened the door to let officers search the house for her mother. According to the police, an odor of decomposition was detected in the basement. This prompted the homicide unit and the evidence unit to investigate.
According to preliminary evidence, the police believe that Craig murdered her mother on the 23rd of May and that her daughter Hardy tried to dispose of her remains the following day.
The investigation is underway to determine the motive of the murder.
“The detectives from the Homicide Unit are going to conduct a thorough investigation and hold both suspects accountable for their criminal and cruel behavior,” Major David Blazer said, commander of major crimes division.
Craig and Hardy both are under the custody of Department of Corrections. At this time, it’s unclear if the two have legal representation.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner confirms the victim’s identification and investigates the cause of death.
Prince George’s County Police Department asks anyone with relevant information to the investigation to contact them.
