Crime & Safety
Arson Suspect Blew Up Home He Shared With Estranged Wife: Baltimore County Police
A man blew up the house he shared with his estranged wife, Baltimore County police said. He's charged with arson and animal cruelty.
ESSEX, MD — Police said they on Monday arrested the man accused of blowing up the Essex house he shared with his estranged wife and children.
Officers identified the suspect as 52-year-old Michael Greensfelder.
Authorities accused Greensfelder of intentionally creating an April fuel and gas explosion that caused the fire and destruction of the family's home.
Find out what's happening in Perry Hallfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The Baltimore County Police Department thinks the family dog was killed in the explosion.
Officers said Greensfelder was charged with first-degree arson, second-degree arson, first-degree malicious burning, malicious destruction of property and animal cruelty.
Find out what's happening in Perry Hallfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Greensfelder is being held at the Baltimore County Detention Center without bond, authorities said.
"We believe [because of] the time of night, there weren't people out on the streets, kids playing in the neighborhood, etc. Those are some fortunate facts, but it's still very unfortunate what took place here in this community. They're not going to forget this," Baltimore County Fire Department Bureau Chief Travis Francis told WJZ.
The Fire Department said the explosion happened April 20 around 11:04 p.m. in the unit block of Crafton Road.
First-arriving firefighters said they called for a second alarm at 11:12 p.m. due to the level of the destruction and fire spread to neighboring houses.
Crews said they couldn't enter the single-family home to search for potential victims because it was unstable.
A man requested medical care nearby during the incident, officials said.
Medics said they took the victim to an undisclosed hospital with burn injuries. He's expected to survive.
"We can't confirm if he was in the home or outside of the home. We do know originally, we had no injuries and then someone presented themselves to first responders on scene with injuries," Francis told WBAL after the explosion.
This map shows the area where authorities said the explosion happened.
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