Fire Investigators Charge 3 Teens in Attempted Murder Case

Fire investigators arrested three teens on Wednesday afternoon for allegedly using Molotov cocktails in an attempt to destroy a Galesville home, Anne Arundel County Fire Chief Michael Cox said.

According to a news release from the Anne Arundel County Fire Department, an investigation showed that the teens allegedly constructed two Molotov cocktails—homemade incendiary devices—and sought to “exact revenge” on a Galesville resident following a dispute on June 1.

Crystal Kalinowski, 19, of Annapolis, Christopher Lester, 19, of Deale, and a 17-year-old male from Churchton were each charged with five counts of attempted first- and second-degree murder, attempted first- and second-degree arson, five counts of first- and second-degree assault, along with several other charges.

On June 1 at around 1:30 a.m., firefighters responded to a call about a suspicious package on the 900 block of Galesville Road. Upon arrival, firefighters and the homeowner found two Molotov cocktails along with two cars that were damaged, according to the news release.

“[The suspects] tried to use [Molotov cocktails], they threw them against the house,” Cox told Patch. “There was a small fire, but the fire had self-extinguished and the resident of the home heard some noises.”

Fire officials conducted an investigation and believed the incident was in retaliation for an earlier dispute, according to the release.

Officials said they believed that after the dispute, Kalinowski and the 17-year-old male allegedly constructed the Molotov cocktails to “exact revenge on the residents." 

According to authorities, the two then met with Lester and all three went to the Galesville home to allegedly use the incendiary devices.

Fire investigators said they executed a search warrant at the Churchton home of the 17-year-old male. Officials arrested Kalinowski and the 17-year-old without incident. Lester later turned himself into police, according to the release.

All three teens are being held at the Anne Arundel County Detention Center without bond, pending a bail review hearing, according to the release.