Woman Charged with Killing Roommate in North Bethesda

The woman arrested for stabbing her roommate to death with a butcher knife wrote in her journal that her roommate was “evil” and practiced “witchcraft,” according to a Montgomery County Police release.

Rita Sanders-Campfield
PHOTO | Montgomery County Police

Police arrested Rita Narcissa Sanders-Campfield, 53, of the 11800 block of Old Georgetown Road, for the slaying of her roommate 67-year-old Chung Park. Sanders-Campfield faces a charge of first-degree murder and is expected in a bond hearing this afternoon.

According to police at about 10:11 a.m., officers responded to an apartment at 11800 Old Georgetown Road for the report of a stabbing. Police said apartment management had received a call from Park’s daughter who had been unable to contact her mother since Nov. 29. The daughter asked apartment management to check on her mother’s welfare and when they did, police said the apartment management employee found Chung’s body.

According to the charging documents, the building management employee used a master key to enter Park’s apartment and then her bedroom where he found Park with “obvious injuries.”

When officers arrived they found Chung’s body on her bedroom floor stabbed multiple times in the back with a large butcher knife, according to police. Sanders-Campfield was in her own bed, according to the report. Police say Sanders-Campfield had injuries that appeared to be bite marks on her right arm. Police also said they found a pair of scissors with blood on them on her bed. Detectives also found Sanders-Campfield’s journal next to her bed with a journal entry that allegedly stated that Park was “evil” and practiced “witchcraft.” In the charging document, police say that Sanders-Campfield talked to Park and her daughter about seeking to be “perfected.” Police reported finding a purple dress and shirt inside Sanders-Campfield’s closet that appeared to be covered in blood.

Anyone with information about this homicide or the suspect involved is asked to call the Major Crimes Division at 240.773.5070.

About Krista Brick

Krista Brick is a multi-media journalist with Montgomery Community Media.

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