Daughter Found Guilty of Grilling and Dismembering Her 71-Year-Old Mother Following an Argument Over Money

Candace Craig, a 46-year-old Maryland woman, has been found guilty after allegedly killing her 71-year-old mother, Margaret Craig, and placing her remains on the grill.

In a two-day testimony, Candace’s 21-year-old daughter, Salia Hardy, testified against her mother, revealing that the killing happened after an argument occurred when Margaret accused Candace of stealing money from her bank account. On the day the slaying took place, May 23rd, 2023, Hardy said she heard screams coming from inside the home and her mother saying not to go into her grandmother’s bedroom.

Additionally, Hardy testified that her mother told her to “look out for her sisters” if she goes to jail. The following day, Hardy says she went inside of her grandmother’s room and found her body inside of a bin with a trash bag over her head. Hardy also saw blood on the carpet. When Hardy confronted her mother about the discovery, Candace allegedly responded in an unremorseful manner, suggesting they should dispose of the body by burning it, using acid, or dismembering it.

To add to her statement, Hardy shared that Candace purchased gasoline and grilling supplies in an effort to burn the body on a grill in their backyard. However, neighbors noticed the flames and notified the fire department. Since the plan did not work, Hardy and Candace brought the ashes into the house once they cooled.

As a new attempt, Candace later ordered a chainsaw from Amazon and dismembered her mother’s body in the basement. A few months later, police were called to the home to do a welfare check after Margaret was reported missing. Once they arrived, authorities noticed a strong decomposition odor and found three garbage bags that contained human remains.

Candace was found guilty of a first-degree murder charge. She was convicted of a second-degree murder charge, tampering with evidence and disposing of a body in an unauthorized location. Hardy has also found herself in hot water after pleading guilty to accessory.