Caroline County deputies arrested a Seaford, Delaware man after he allegedly tried to force his way into a Marydel home on July 13th.  Deputies were dispatched to the home for a reported burglary in progress.  When deputies arrived, they found 43-year-old Ruperto Matias Escalante standing in the front yard. Investigators determined he was intoxicated and had driven himself to the scene. Open containers of alcohol were found inside his vehicle.   Victims on scene told deputies that Escalante had been striking the front door, and he had broken a bedroom window while trying to get inside. Deputies confirmed the broken window at the rear of the home and found damage to the front door consistent with forced entry.  Escalante was taken into custody and is charged with Fourth-Degree Burglary, Malicious Destruction of Property, and Intoxicated Endangerment. He was committed to the Caroline County Detention Center, and is pending a future court appearance. 

A Sudlersville man has pled guilty to five charges following an arson attempt that damaged multiple trucks at a Ridgely business.  Marshall Murphy, 27, pled guilty to second-degree malicious burning, malicious destruction of property valued at over $1000 and three counts of second-degree attempted arson during a pre-trial conference on July 8th.  Caroline County Circuit Judge Heather Price also accepted his pleas of not guilty to 11 other charges, including the two felonies of first-degree malicious burning and second-degree arson.  Murphy was charged for an incident in July 2025 where four trucks at SunnySide Energy, located on West Belle Road, were found doused in gas, with one having sustained significant burns.  The Office of the State Fire Marshal estimated damages to be about $100,000. Surveillance cameras showed two individuals, but only Murphy was charged after a six-month investigation.  A sentencing for Murphy is scheduled for September 17th.