Man Charged After He Allegedly Set Fire to His Home After an Argument with His Estranged Wife

A Maryland man has been arrested after allegedly setting his home on fire while his estranged wife was still inside.

Around 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 25, a woman called police to report a domestic dispute involving her husband, Michael Weisgerber, at their home in Sykesville, according to local outlets WMAR 2 News, WBFF and CBS News.

While officers were en route, the woman called again and reported that Weisgerber, 59, was “preparing to set fire to the house,” the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) said in a news release cited by those outlets. The State Fire Marshal’s Office was also dispatched to the scene.

“A female occupant of the home indicated that her estranged husband had forcefully entered the home, leading to some breaking of windows,” Master Deputy State Fire Marshal Oliver Alkire told WMAR 2 News. “During that phone call, it was indicated that he may have wanted to set the house on fire.”

When authorities arrived, the home was already engulfed in flames. Weisgerber was standing outside and allegedly admitted to intentionally starting the fire, CBS News reported.

According to court documents cited by the outlet, Weisgerber told investigators that his estranged wife was living in the house while he stayed in an RV parked in the driveway. Before the fire, the pair allegedly argued, and Weisgerber is accused of locking his wife out of the house, then pouring gasoline inside and setting it ablaze.

An explosion later occurred, and about half of the property was destroyed by the fire, according to photographs from the scene.

Weisgerber suffered minor injuries and was treated at a local hospital before being taken to the Carroll County Detention Center, where he was arrested, CBS News reported.

He was charged on Wednesday, Nov. 26, in Carroll County Circuit Court with arson and reckless endangerment. He waived his right to bail, according to the outlet.

Weisgerber reportedly told investigators he did not intend to hurt his wife, whose name has not been released.

“He did indicate that he did not want to injure his wife. He said that numerous times to our investigators,” Alkire told WMAR 2 News. “He wanted to make sure he was ensuring her safety when he did this.”

Weisgerber and his wife have been married for 30 years, WMAR 2 News reported.

The CCSO, Maryland State Police and the Maryland State Fire Marshal did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Saturday, Nov. 29.