Grasonville Woman Indicted on Arson and Fraud Charges

Grasonville, MD - A 40-year-old woman from Grasonville, Maryland has been indicted on multiple charges related to arson and fraud following a fire at her residence last year.

The Queen Anne's County grand jury returned the indictment on August 5, 2025, following a thorough investigation by multiple agencies.

Appollonia K. Ryans was arrested on Friday after an investigation that determined she was responsible for setting the fire at her home, located in the 300 block of Perrys Corner Road in Grasonville, Maryland. The fire occurred on November 18, 2024, when smoke was reported by a passerby just after 6:00 p.m.

Firefighters from the Grasonville Volunteer Fire Department and nearby departments responded to the single-story home and extinguished the blaze in approximately 20 minutes.

The fire caused significant damage, with losses estimated at $70,000 for the structure and $15,000 for its contents. Investigators confirmed that no smoke alarms were present in the home at the time of the incident.

Deputy State Fire Marshals determined the fire was intentionally set. Over several months, investigators gathered evidence, interviewed witnesses, and collaborated with the Queen Anne's County State'sAttorney's Office.

Their findings led to the presentation of the case to a grand jury, which resulted in nine charges against Ryans. These charges include First- and Second-Degree Arson, First- and Second-Degree Malicious Burning, Malicious Burning for Fraud, False and Misleading Information for Fraud, Attempted Insurance Fraud, Theft, and Attempted Theft.

"The investigation of arson cases is often tedious and time-consuming, requiring careful evidence collection, witness interviews, and coordination between agencies," said Acting State Fire Marshal Jason M. Mowbray. "Our investigators worked closely with the Queen Anne's County State'sAttorney's Office to ensure we had a solid case to present to the grand jury, ultimately resulting in this indictment."

Ryans was arrested without incident by the Queen Anne's County Sheriff's Office on Friday evening. She is currently being held at the Queen Anne's County Detention Center, awaiting a bond review.

Disclaimer: All individuals mentioned in this article are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.