Woman's Ex-Boyfriend Charged With Her Murder, Arson

The former boyfriend of an Oxon Hill woman found dead after a May fire in her apartment has been charged with the victim’s murder, authorities say.

The Prince George’s County Police Department has arrested Maurice Wigfall Jr., 26, of the 3300 block of Springdale Avenue in Forestville in the death of Latiqua Nicole Cherry, 21.

SEE ALSO: Woman Dies in Minor Apartment Fire: Officials

Neighbors called 911 about 5 a.m. on May 17 to report smoke in Cherry’s apartment building in the 600 block of Audrey Lane. Fire crews quickly extinguished flames inside an apartment and discovered Cherry’s body, with burn injuries.

A medical examiner ruled that Cherry died from trauma to the body before the fire was set in her apartment. The manner of death was a homicide.

The Prince George’s County Office of the Fire Marshal investigated the cause and origin of the fire. Fire damage was minimal and contained to the area of origin in the third floor apartment.

Detectives obtained an arrest warrant Wednesday charging Wigfall with first- and second-degree murder and arson. He was already in custody at the Department of Corrections on an unrelated charge.

Anyone with information about Cherry’s death is asked to call police at 301-772-4925.

»Photos of Wigfall, Cherry, courtesy of PGPD