Edgewood woman charged with attempted murder, setting own home on fire
Oct. 2—An Edgewood woman has been charged with attempted murder after setting her home on fire early Sunday while another person was inside, according to the Office of the State Fire Marshal.
Around 3 a.m., the Joppa Magnolia Volunteer Fire Company, surrounding departments and the Harford County Sheriff's Office were called to the 1100 block of Shady Drive for a reported house fire. Sheriff's deputies were the first to arrive and discovered a fire on the front porch of the house, according to a news release from the fire marshal's office. Deputies were able to extinguish the fire with fire extinguishers.
Deputies found the homeowner, Christina L. Beattie, 45, inside a neighbor's home. The neighbor reported that Beattie was staying with her after she had responded to an earlier argument between Beattie and a man staying at the home. The neighbor asked Beattie to stay with her for the evening while the man stayed at Beattie's home, the fire marshal's office said.
About 20 minutes later, the neighbor told deputies, Beattie left the neighbor's home and when she returned, Beattie's home was on fire with the man still inside.
Deputy state fire marshals were called to the scene by the sheriff's office to conduct an investigation and with the assistance of a canine unit, they concluded the fire was intentionally set, the news release said.
Beattie has been charged with attempted murder, first- and second-degree arson, first- and second-degree malicious burning, and malicious destruction of property of $1,000 or greater, according to the release. She is being held without bail at the Harford County Detention Center. A preliminary hearing will be held Oct. 27.
