A Maryland man has been arrested after allegedly setting his house on fire while his estranged wife was still inside, in a shocking domestic incident that left the community reeling.
The terrifying ordeal unfolded around 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 25, in Sykesville. According to police reports, the woman first called authorities to report a domestic dispute with her husband, 59-year-old Michael Weisgerber. Moments later, she called again, claiming Weisgerber was “preparing to set fire to the house,” the Carroll County Sheriff’s Department said. Fire investigators were also called to the scene.
Master Deputy State Fire Marshal Oliver Alkire told WMAR 2 News that Weisgerber had forcefully entered the home, breaking windows during the altercation. He added that the wife indicated her husband might intend to set the house ablaze.
When police arrived, the home was already engulfed in flames. Weisgerber was outside the burning house and reportedly admitted to setting it on fire intentionally, CBS News reported.
Court documents reveal that Weisgerber had been living in an RV in the driveway while his estranged wife remained inside the house. Following a heated argument, he allegedly locked her out and doused the home with gasoline before igniting it. An explosion occurred during the blaze, leaving half the property destroyed, according to photos from the scene.
Weisgerber suffered minor injuries in the fire and was treated at a local hospital before being transferred to the Carroll County Detention Center. On Wednesday, Nov. 26, he was charged with arson and reckless endangerment. He waived his right to bail.
Despite the severity of the crime, authorities said Weisgerber repeatedly claimed he did not intend to harm his wife during the fire. “He did indicate that he did not want to injure his wife. He said that numerous times to our investigators,” Alkire told WMAR 2 News. “He wanted to make sure he was ensuring her safety when he did this.”
Weisgerber and his wife have been married for 30 years, WMAR 2 News reported. The woman’s identity has not been released publicly.
The incident drew swift response from the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, Maryland State Police, and the Maryland State Fire Marshal, though no further comment has been released.