A Baltimore couple has been charged with killing their landlord, then dumping his body at an abandoned construction site and setting it afire, authorities said.
Edward G. Palmer and wife, Catherine Palmer, of the 600 block of Clinton Street, were charged Saturday with murder.
Catherine Palmer told police her husband stabbed and beat the victim to death during a drunken fight, according to charging documents.
The victim?s body ? found April 14, a day after he had been killed ? had been burned beyond recognition, police said. The victim was identified only as “John Doe.”
Authorities focused on the couple after a tip that a man named Palmer was responsible for disposing of the body discovered in Essex, police said.
Several witnesses told police Palmer sought help from friends to dispose of a body April 14.
Later, police said, Palmer borrowed a Black Crown Victoria, drove the victim?s body to a construction site in Essex, poured gasoline on the body and burned it.
Catherine Palmer told homicide detectives her husband had killed the man in self defense, prosecutors alleged. Police found the victim?s body at a vacant construction site in Essex. An autopsy determined the victim had died of stab wounds and blunt-force trauma.
Detectives searched Palmer?s apartment and discovered “numerous” blood-stained items, police said.
