Police arrested a 23-year-old woman in the murder of a shop owner found dead inside his burned-down Bladensburg, Md., store.
Prince George's County police said on Monday morning that Ashley Owens has been arrested in the murder of Richard Nam on April 8. Police discovered Nam's body while investigating a fire at his business in the 5400 block of Annapolis Road.
According to investigators, Owens started the fire after stabbing Nam with a box cutter and beating him with a chainsaw. The cause of death was reported as blunt force trauma.
Police said that Nam and Owens had some type of relationship, the nature of which they were continuing to investigate.
On April 8, according to police, the two had an argument, at which point Owens became violent. After striking the 68-year-old down, Owens went to a nearby gas station, purchased gasoline, and then returned to douse and then burn Nam's business, police said.
Prince George's investigators also said Owens took $2,000 in cash from the store before leaving. She was identified through surveillance camera footage found inside the business.