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Sykesville Man Charged After Allegedly Setting Home Ablaze with Estranged Wife Inside

A 59-year-old man, Michael Weisgerber, has been charged with arson and reckless endangerment after police say he set his Sykesville, Maryland, home on fire while his estranged wife was inside. The wife first called to report a domestic disturbance and then warned that Weisgerber was preparing to ignite the house. Responding officers found the residence ablaze after an explosion destroyed about half the property; Weisgerber was treated for minor injuries, arrested and waived bail.

11:18 PM, 11/29/2025Society
Sykesville Man Charged After Allegedly Setting Home Ablaze with Estranged Wife Inside

A Maryland man has been arrested and charged after authorities say he intentionally set his Sykesville home on fire while his estranged wife remained inside. The Carroll County Sheriff's Office says the incident began shortly before 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 25, when a woman called to report a domestic disturbance.

As officers were en route, the woman called again to say her husband, 59-year-old Michael Weisgerber, was preparing to ignite the house. The Maryland State Fire Marshal was notified and responded to the scene.

Master Deputy State Fire Marshal Oliver Alkire said the woman reported Weisgerber had forced his way into the home and broken windows. During the second call she warned he might attempt to set the house on fire.

Responding officers arrived to find the residence already engulfed in flames. Weisgerber was outside the home and reportedly admitted to intentionally starting the fire. Investigators later learned he had been living in an RV parked in the driveway while his estranged wife remained inside the house.

Court documents allege the couple argued, after which Weisgerber locked his wife outside, poured gasoline on the dwelling and set it alight. An explosion followed; photographs from the scene show roughly half the property was destroyed by the blaze.

Weisgerber sustained minor injuries and was treated at a nearby hospital before being taken to the Carroll County Detention Center. On Nov. 26 he was charged at Carroll County Circuit Court with arson and reckless endangerment and waived his right to bail.

'He did indicate that he did not want to injure his wife. He said that numerous times to our investigators,' Master Deputy State Fire Marshal Oliver Alkire said. 'He wanted to make sure he was ensuring her safety when he did this.'

The identity of the female occupant has not been released. Authorities from the Carroll County Sheriff's Office, the Maryland State Police and the State Fire Marshal continue to investigate the case.

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