News Releases

Detectives Conducting Death Investigation Following Merivale Road House Fire; Victim's Identity Released

For Immediate Release: Monday, April 6, 2026

Gaithersburg, MD – Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Major Crimes Division and Fire Explosive Investigators from the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service are conducting a death investigation following a house fire that occurred Friday morning in Chevy Chase.

 

On Friday, April 3, 2026, at approximately 5:43 a.m., 2nd District officers and Fire and Rescue personnel responded to a house fire in the 4700 block of Merivale Road.

 

MCFRS personnel entered the home and located a resident suffering from life-threatening injuries. The resident, identified as 55-year-old Karen Elsa Carstens, was transported to a local hospital where she later died.

 

A second resident was also transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

 

At this time, there is no foul play suspected in Karen Carstens' death.

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Release ID: 26-149
Media Contact: DBartels 
Categories: death-investigation