A mother and daughter from Maryland are facing criminal charges and accusations of killing their mother/grandmother. Candace Craig, 44, allegedly killed her mother Margaret Craig, 71, following a dispute. Based on evidence they’ve gathered, authorities believe Candace Craig dismembered Margaret Craig with a chainsaw and tried to get rid of her remains using a barbecue grill at the victim’s home in Prince George’s County. Candace Craig’s 19-year-old daughter, Salia Hardy, is believed to have aided her in getting rid of the remains.
Authorities were conducting a welfare check on the senior woman at her home after receiving a call from an unidentified person saying they were concerned for her welfare, reported the Daily Mail. Upon entering the home, the officers encountered a strong odor and discovered blood and tissue near several trash bags in the basement, as well as a chainsaw and splattered blood, the outlet reported.
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The motives are unclear at this time, but a dispute between the family members may have prompted the alleged crime.
The motive in this crime is currently under investigation but court papers show that Candace Craig’s mother Margaret Craig accused her of credit card fraud, a factor that may have played a part in what happened, reported CantonRep.com. The court documents allege that Margaret Craig threatened to report her daughter.
“Defendant 2 [Salia Hardy] stated that the Defendant threatened to report her daughter, Defendant 1 [Candace Craig], to the police for fraudulent use of her credit card. Defendant 1 then attacked the Decedent,” the court documents stated, per Daily Mail.
Authorities suspect Candace Craig murdered her mother on May 23, though her body was not discovered until June 2. The alleged murder would have taken place shortly after Mother’s Day, the outlet noted. The gruesome scene seems vastly out of place in comparison to a Mother’s Day message Candace Craig wrote dedicated to her mother two years ago on Facebook.
The mother and daughter are facing criminal charges.
Candace Craig is being charged with first- and second-degree murder while Hardy, is being charged with being an accessory to murder, per CantonRep.com. Both Candace Craig and Hardy are being held at Prince George’s County Department of Corrections, per Daily Mail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Candace Craig on July 3, and she is being held without bond, the outlet reported.
A commander of the police department’s Major Crimes Division, Maj. David Blazer, said, “The detectives of the homicide unit will ensure a thorough investigation is conducted and that both suspects are held accountable for their cruel and criminal behavior,” reported CantonRep.com.
Maryland reportedly has a higher than average murder rate.
According to The Southern Maryland Chronicle, Maryland has the eighth highest murder rate among all states. In 2020, the homicide rate was 9.1 for every 100,000, compared to the national rate of 6.5 per 100,000, the outlet reported. There are many contributing factors, as the overall US murder rate reached its highest level in several decades in 2020, up 30% from 2019, the outlet reported.
In 2023, job scarcity, drug issues, gang activity, low wages, and proximity to larger cities may all be contributing factors to the high crime rate in Maryland, per Southwest Journal.
People are horrified by the family members' actions and are hoping for the maximum sentences for them both.
Readers of the Daily Mail article covering the story were appalled and disgusted by the mother and daughter’s alleged actions, with many hoping they receive the maximum punishment for their crimes if found guilty.
“If found guilty in court then these two are Devils,” one commenter wrote. “If so I hope both get the maximum sentences permitted by law.”
“Rest in Peace dear lady… I have to add … this lady in no way looked a day of her 71 years on this earth .. such a cruel and tragic end to a precious soul,” another wrote.
Others were in disbelief that anyone could be capable of such a crime and suggested that it would only happen in Maryland, since the area has such high crime and murder rates.
One user wrote: “What have I just read. Utterly horrific.”
“Only in Maryland,” commented another.
