A chilling story of betrayal, violence, and an unthinkable crime has come to a grim conclusion, as a Maryland woman faces life in prison for the brutal murder of her own mother.
Candace Craig, 45, was found guilty in late October 2024 of first- and second-degree murder, tampering with evidence, and improper disposal of human remains in the gruesome killing of her mother, 71-year-old Margaret Craig.
The case has left residents horrified and asking how such a tragedy could unfold within a family.
In May 2023, an argument erupted between Candace and her mother over alleged fraudulent charges on Margaret’s credit card, reportedly incurred by Candace’s daughter, Salia Hardy.
According to court testimony, the argument turned violent, and Salia, who was present at the time, recounted hearing her grandmother scream from within the home.
When she entered, Candace allegedly confessed that she had killed her mother.
The following day, Salia, now a key witness, reportedly discovered her grandmother’s body in a trash bin with a bag covering her head.
In a terrifying escalation, Candace forced Salia to help dispose of Margaret’s remains. The pair allegedly used a chainsaw to dismember the body and attempted to burn it in their backyard.
Their actions caught the attention of neighbors, who reported smoke and unusual odors coming from the property.
When authorities arrived at the house, Candace and Salia had quickly hidden the body in the basement, but traces of their actions remained.
Concerned about Margaret’s sudden silence, family member Jillian Philbert visited the home days later.
She reported a foul odor coming from the basement and sensed something was terribly wrong, prompting her to alert the police.
Officers soon discovered Margaret’s dismembered remains in trash bags, along with bloodstains throughout the house and a chainsaw later found to contain human tissue.
With mounting evidence, both Candace and Salia were arrested and charged.
Salia, charged with accessory after the fact, cooperated with prosecutors and awaits sentencing.
Candace’s guilty verdict brings a close to one of the most disturbing criminal cases the county has seen.
