In the early hours of New Year's Day 2017, the tranquility of an Ellicott City, Maryland neighborhood was shattered by a violent intrusion that ended in a tragic loss of life. Sixteen-year-old Charlotte Zaremba, a female student at Howard High School, was fatally shot in her bedroom by a masked intruder. The devastating event unfolded around 2 a.m.
in the 4800 block of Knoll Glen Road shortly after Charlotte's parents had brought her home from a party.
Charlotte's mother, Suzanne Zaremba, was alerted by the sounds of a struggle coming from her daughter's room. Upon entering, she discovered Charlotte grappling with the intruder. The suspect then opened fire, wounding Suzanne before fatally shooting Charlotte. In the horrifying moments that followed, the assailant turned the gun on himself. Charlotte was rushed to Howard County General Hospital where she was pronounced dead. Her mother was treated for her injuries and subsequently released.
The suspect was identified as 15-year-old Sean Crizer, a classmate of Charlotte's at Howard High School who lived in the same neighborhood. Crizer was taken to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center in critical condition and died from the self-inflicted gunshot wound two days later. Due to his death, there was no arrest or trial.
In the aftermath, investigators diligently searched for a motive, examining phone records and computers, but found no evidence of a relationship or significant communication between Crizer and Charlotte. While they were acquainted through school, there was no indication of a close friendship. The investigation did reveal that the handgun used in the attack had been stolen from a nearby home, and Crizer was suspected of committing at least two other burglaries in the neighborhood in the weeks leading up to the murder. Despite these findings, the reason for Crizer targeting the Zaremba residence remains a mystery to law enforcement and a heartbroken community.
