Maryland man burned neighbor's house with four people inside

Cecil County, MD — Joshua Edward Alexander Larkins, 27, of North East, was arrested early Tuesday morning for setting fire to his neighbor’s home while they were inside. The arrest was made with assistance from the Maryland State Police S.T.A.T.E. Team.

On April 16, 2024, just before 10:00 p.m., the North East Fire Company and other fire departments responded to a reported dwelling fire at 27 Bay View Woods Lane. Firefighters found the front of the home ablaze and extinguished the fire within ten minutes. No injuries were reported.

Investigators from the Office of the State Fire Marshal determined the fire was intentionally set. The homeowner reported that Larkins, who lives at 8 Bay View Woods Lane, had visited earlier that evening and later continued to harass the neighbor with phone calls and texts.

Deputy State Fire Marshals obtained camera footage showing Larkins setting multiple fires at the front of the home and then fleeing. Four people were inside the home at the time of the fire.

Larkins has been charged with four counts of first-degree attempted murder, four counts of first-degree assault, four counts of second-degree assault, four counts of reckless endangerment, first and second-degree arson, and first and second-degree malicious burning.

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