Man Arrested In Death Of Woman Found In Burning Car In Germantown

GERMANTOWN, MD — A Germantown man has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder for the death of a woman whose body was found in a burning car in the woods March 14.

Stephan Leroy H. Lunningham, 29, of Germantown was arrested for the murder of Angela Fay Thomas, 49, of North Bethesda. In a police interview, Lunningham admitted to stabbing Thomas after a verbal altercation, then burning the car with Thomas' remains in it.

Responders received a call for a brush fire in the woods in the 13700 block of Wisteria Dr. near Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School at about 4:22 a.m. Wednesday, March 14.

Arriving officers found a car on fire and located a deceased person inside the car, police said.

Thomas' remains were transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore. An autopsy was completed and the death was ruled a homicide. The victim has been tentatively identified as Thomas, police said.

See Related: Woman's Body Found In Burning Car In Germantown Woods

Detectives developed Lunningham as a suspect. Police said Lunningham and Thomas were "known associates."

A criminal warrant was issued for Lunningham's arrest on March 19, charging him with first-degree murder and first-degree arson.

Police stopped a vehicle occupied by Lunningham on Interstate 495 in the area of the Colesville Road exit on Wednesday afternoon. He was arrested and transported to Police Headquarters. He is currently being held without bond and is scheduled for a bond review 1 p.m. Thursday.

Photo via MCPD