Backpack near crime scene led police to triple homicide, arson suspect in Aberdeen
BALTIMORE -- After two weeks with very little updates, we are finally learning new details about the mysterious and tragic triple homicide that happened in Aberdeen earlier this month.
Police have arrested Michael Swann, 35, in connection with the murders.
"From the moment that this event occurred, we had detectives working tirelessly around the clock once he was developed him as a suspect early on to locate him," Aberdeen Police Spokesman Captain Will Reiber said.
The victims are John Claytor, 54, Melissa Williams, 45 and Talaya Wiley, 48.
Aberdeen Police say they were found shot to death in an apartment that was intentionally set on fire.
"I'm saddened by their lives being taken and I do feel bad for their family because they suffered a major loss," Myrna Pitts of Aberdeen said.
The shooting and arson happened the morning of April 15 at the Highland Commons apartment complex.
Charging documents WJZ obtained reveal police found the victims shot in the head inside the home and that police believe gasoline was used to start the fire.
Detectives wrote that surveillance video allegedly shows the suspect outside the apartment before and after the incident and that a backpack found near the scene contained items linking Swann to the crime.
Aberdeen's Police Chief Henry Trabert says this is not the only crime Swann is linked to.
"Investigators learned that Swan had an outstanding warrant from Prince George's County for shooting a woman in February 2024," Chief Trabert said.
Swann also had another outstanding federal warrant for parole violations.
Officers tracked him down at an apartment in that same complex on April 23. They arrested him after a brief standoff.
He's charged with three counts of first and second degree murder, first and second degree arson and several other charges.
"I know the arrest of Swann did not replace the void left by those who lost lives during this incident, but I hope his arrest brings some comfort to the families who are still grieving their loss," Chief Trabert said.
Police are not releasing a motive or how or if the suspect and victims knew each other.
The mother of one of the victims, Melissa Williams, spoke with us about the arrest she didn't want to be shown on camera.
"Though all the heartache and nightmare that this was," the mother of Melissa Williams said. "The Aberdeen Police force supported me and told me everything I needed to know the whole way through this case."
Swann is being held without bail at the Harford County Detention Center.
Police say this is the first triple homicide in Aberdeen's history. Investigators say homicides happen so rarely there that the city once went seven without homicides from 2015-2022.
