Columbia, MD: Columbia man charged in fire, ex-wife's death

Damon Willie White, 35, is in critical condition at Maryland Shock Trauma

7:55 PM EDT, September 8, 2010

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A Columbia man has been charged with murder and arson in the death of his ex-wife and subsequent apartment fire, according to Howard County police.

Damon Willie White, who is in critical condition at Maryland Shock Trauma Center, was charged Wednesday in the death of Thelma Wynn, 34, according to police spokesman Sherry Llewellyn.

Firefighters rushed to a fire at Wynn's Columbia condominium in the 6000 block of Majors Lane at 2:42 p.m. Tuesday and found Wynn and 35-year-old White inside. Wynn was declared dead at the scene and White was sent to Shock Trauma. Since both sustained injuries that were not from the fire, police investigated whether the incident was a domestic dispute.

Investigators later determined that Wynn was stabbed to death and suspect that the blaze was set after the stabbing, Llewellyn said. According to police, a knife found in the apartment is being analyzed as a possible murder weapon.

White was temporarily living at the apartment with Wynn and four children at the time of the attack, police say. None of the children — two girls, ages 17 and 15, and two boys, ages 11 and 6 — were at home at the time of the incident. They are in the care of family members.

Nobody else was hurt in the blaze, which was contained to Wynn's home.

According to electronic court records, Wynn had a restraining order against White issued in 2008.