Police: Man Confesses To Fatally Stabbing Woman, Setting Vacant Home Ablaze

Baltimore police on Friday arrested a man who they said fatally stabbed a woman early Thursday before setting fire to a vacant home, with her body inside.

Fire crews responded at around 4:47 a.m. to the home in the 600 block of East Biddle Street. After they put out the fire, firefighters found the body of 52-year-old Anita Cheek, of the 5000 block of Queensberry Avenue. An investigator determined the fire had been deliberately set.

Homicide detectives learned 34-year-old David Okoroji was at the scene, claiming to live in the vacant home with his pregnant girlfriend. Speaking to detectives, Okoroji subsequently confessed to stabbing Cheek and setting the fire, police said. Police would not confirm whether Cheek was in fact pregnant.

Okoroji remains held without bail at Central Booking. He faces charges of first-degree murder and first-degree arson. A preliminary hearing is set for Aug. 6.