Howard County police have charged a suspect with murder in the death of a man in his own Elkridge residence on March 3.
Dennis Lee Graham, 38, of Baltimore, is charged with second-degree murder, false imprisonment, and first-degree arson. He is being held without bond at the Howard County Detention Center.
At approximately 10:30 a.m., police were called to the residence of 64-year-old James Sents Jr. in the 6000 block of Old Washington Road for a reported home invasion. When police arrived, they encountered a man later identified as Graham inside the residence and smoke coming from a bedroom. Upon entering, officers found Sents Jr. deceased. Graham was detained on-scene and later charged.
Through investigation, detectives believe that Graham broke into the residence and assaulted Sents Jr. Graham is also alleged to have set a small fire in a bedroom that was extinguished by first responders.
Detectives still are investigating a motive and whether the suspect and victim knew each other.
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