Flames had engulfed much of the three-story apartment building at Parkside Gardens on Frankford Avenue when firefighters arrived, and they made a gruesome discovery inside.
"When they went into the apartment, they discovered what appears to be an adult female deceased inside of the residence," said T.J. Smith of the Baltimore City Police Department.
It didn't take long for local and federal investigators to determine the fire was no accident.
"We don't know exactly the reason why this was set,” said Smith, “We don't know if this was a domestic incident. We don't know who the target of incident was, but the fact of the matter is, somebody set this intentionally and we need to know who that person is."
William Carter lives in a nearby complex, and he says loud screaming could be heard outside that very unit earlier in the wee hours of the morning.
"There was a fight our here. I guess her baby father---he was trying to grab her child and she wouldn't let him get her child and it went from there. It just escalated," said Carter.
While police have not yet identified any suspects and refuse to comment on how the fire started, some of the victim's neighbors have a pretty good idea.
"From what I understand it was gas, gasoline, it was arson from what I was told," said Carter.
Seven people who were sleeping in their apartments scrambled to escape with their lives, and police say it easily could have spread to other buildings raising a disturbing question over why someone would set such a fire with such disregard for so many peoples' lives.
"Everyone in jeopardy… I mean it's crazy, but this is Baltimore City you know... home of the crazy people you know," said Michael Wright.
Police say seven people escaped with minor injuries, and if you have any information on the arson, you're asked to call homicide detectives at 410-396-2100.
