Arson Suspect in Elkton Walmart Fire Arrested in New Jersey
State of MD - A man wanted in connection with a fire set inside the Elkton Walmart last month has been arrested in New Jersey, according to Maryland fire officials.
Anthony J. Rhodes, 36, of Berlin, New Jersey, was taken into custody Thursday morning by Berlin Township Police without incident. An arrest warrant had been issued for him earlier this month after Deputy State Fire Marshals identified him as the suspect. He now faces numerous charges, including first-degree arson and manufacturing an explosive device.
Rhodes is currently being held at the Camden County Correctional Facility in New Jersey while extradition to Maryland is pending.
The incident that led to his arrest happened on April 29, 2026. Just after 7:00 p.m., Singerly Fire Company and several other departments were called to the Walmart at 1100 E. Pulaski Highway in Elkton after a fire broke out inside the store.
Firefighters got the blaze under control within minutes, and the Office of the State Fire Marshal was called in to investigate.
Video footage obtained by investigators showed a white male entering the store wearing a mask and carrying a backpack. The man used a can of camping fuel and several boxes of fireworks to set a fire inside a grocery cart located near the children's clothing section.
As the fire spread, the fireworks started going off and customers and staff began evacuating. At that point, the man broke into the jewelry counter and stole multiple pieces of jewelry valued at nearly $10,000. He then walked out of the store and left on a motorcycle.
The fire itself caused an estimated $5,000 in direct damage. However, Walmart reported that losses from smoke, soot, and cleanup efforts totaled nearly $10 million.
During the investigation, fire marshals noticed the suspect was wearing a Jefferson University Baseball t-shirt. That detail proved to be a key piece of evidence. Through various investigative methods, the shirt helped lead investigators to Rhodes. He has no connection to Jefferson University or its baseball team.
The Office of the State Fire Marshal was assisted by agents and task force officers from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and Walmart Global Investigations.
Acting State Fire Marshal Jason M. Mowbray praised the teamwork involved in closing the case.
"Working side-by-side with our ATF partners and Walmart Global Investigations, our team was able to identify a suspect quickly. Investigations such as these require an all-hands approach, and I am proud of everyone who was able to bring this case to a close," Mowbray said.
Disclosure: All individuals mentioned in this article are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Eastern Shore Undercover® does not express or imply any opinion regarding the incident reported.
