Elkridge man arrested for home invasion murder and arson

Elkridge man arrested for home invasion murder and arson
Howard County police car photo courtesy of Howard County Police Department

ELKRIDGE, MD – An Elkridge man identified as the suspect wanted for the home invasion murder of a 64-year-old man has been arrested.

Police have charged Dennis Lee Graham, 38, of Baltimore, with murder in the death of a man in his own Elkridge residence on March 3. Graham has been charged with second-degree murder, false imprisonment, and first-degree arson.

He is being held without bond at the Howard County Detention Center. 

In the 6000 block of Old Washington Road, police were called for a reported home invasion at approximately 10:30 a.m.

Officers found a man, later identified as Graham, inside the residence and smoke coming from a bedroom when they arrived. When officers entered, they discovered James Sents Jr., 64, deceased. Graham was arrested on-scene and later charged. 

Detectives believe Graham broke into the residence and assaulted Sents Jr. He is also alleged to have set a small fire in a bedroom that first responders put out. 

An investigation into the suspect’s motive and whether the victim and suspect knew each other is still underway.