LOCAL DIGEST

PRINCE GEORGE'S

Woman, 84, killed in Temple Hills

Prince George's County police are investigating the killing of an 84-year-old woman whose body was found in the 4400 block of 23rd Avenue in Temple Hills early Saturday.

The victim has not been identified, and there were scant details on the circumstances surrounding the death. Cpl. Evan Baxter, a police spokesman, said the cause of death was "trauma to the body."

A 26-year-old woman was found injured at the site. She was hospitalized and is in stable condition, Baxter said.

Police were called to the scene at 1:30 a.m. Saturday.

A possible motive and suspect remain elusive.

- Kevin Sieff

FAIRFAX

Embers in container said to be cause of fire

Smoldering fireplace debris in a plastic container ignited a blaze Saturday morning that destroyed much of a Fairfax County house, authorities said.

Four people in the one-story house at 11506 Chapel Rd. in the Fairfax Station area escaped unharmed, said Dan Schmidt, a spokesman for the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department.

The fire began in the garage about 9:50 a.m. Schmidt said more than half the house burned or was damaged by smoke and water.

- Nick Anderson