A Maryland woman, Candace Craig, 46, has been convicted of first-degree murder for killing her mother, 71-year-old Margaret Craig, in a gruesome crime that involved dismembering and attempting to cook her remains. The Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office confirmed the verdict after an eight-day trial that shocked the community with its disturbing details.
Craig was initially arrested in May 2023, when law enforcement uncovered evidence indicating she had used a chainsaw to dismember her mother’s body. According to police, the violent act followed a dispute where Margaret Craig threatened to report her daughter for using her credit card without permission. The situation escalated tragically, leading to Margaret’s death on May 23, 2023, according to the People.
Charging documents revealed that Candace Craig’s daughter, 19-year-old Salia Hardy, discovered her grandmother’s remains in a blue bin in her bedroom. Hardy reportedly told investigators that she assisted her mother in attempting to dispose of the body. Police reports indicate that Craig and Hardy used a chainsaw to dismember Margaret’s body before trying to burn her remains on a grill and in a fire behind their home. In an effort to disguise the odor, Craig allegedly “seasoned” her mother’s flesh.
The murder was only discovered 10 days later when police conducted a welfare check at their home on Hill Road in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Authorities were alerted by a concerned relative who reported that he hadn’t heard from Margaret for several days. Officers arrived at the home around 1:35 p.m. and made the grim discovery, which led to the immediate arrest of both Candace Craig and her daughter.
After her conviction, Candace Craig now faces a severe prison sentence. In addition to first-degree murder, she was also convicted of second-degree murder, tampering with evidence, and disposing of a body in an unauthorized location. Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy commented on the case, describing it as “truly heartbreaking.” Braveboy added, “Candace Craig was heartless towards her mother. A daughter who was supposed to be taking care of her mother instead took advantage of her by stealing from her, and then murdering her when she discovered the fraud.”
Salia Hardy, Craig’s daughter, had already entered a guilty plea earlier this year for being an accessory to the crime after the fact. This tragic case has left many in the community stunned, highlighting a disturbing breach of trust and the devastating consequences of unresolved family conflicts.