Overview
- David Michael Crawford, 74, pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree arson and one count of second-degree arson tied to fires at family members’ homes.
- The Montgomery County case centers on three Clarksburg house fires in 2016, 2017 and 2020, including two attacks on the same residence.
- Prosecutors say digital forensics and a phone “target list” linked Crawford to a broader pattern of 13 fires across multiple Maryland counties.
- One Montgomery County fire occurred while his pregnant daughter-in-law and children were inside, and no fatalities were reported in the series.
- Officials highlighted the breach of trust given Crawford’s law enforcement leadership roles, as investigators and the victimized stepson described long-running strain and relief at closure.