Son charged with fatal stabbing of mother after domestic dispute in Pikesville, police say

BALTIMORE -- A man was arrested for the stabbing death of his mother during a domestic dispute in Pikesville on New Year's Eve, according to Baltimore County Police. 

Xander Fried, 21, has been charged with first-degree murder and is being held without bond at the Baltimore County Detention Center. 

Around 1:45 p.m. on Dec. 31, officers responded to a home in the 100 block of Brightside Avenue after being notified of an assault in progress.

According to charging documents, the 911 caller said he killed his mother because his mother is a violent person who had been holding a knife. When officers arrived, they also identified Fried, who again told police he had killed his mother,  as the 911 caller.

Police said they found the victim, 57-year-old Melanie Fried, dead inside the home, hunched over a chair with multiple stab wounds to the chest and hands.

Domestic violence during holidays

Jean Henningsen, who works with the nonprofit TurnAround which provides services to survivors of sexual assault and partner violence, said it's common to see this type of violence increase during the holidays.

 "Even though they're gathering together, that actually in some ways mean more isolation for folks in an abusive relationship. So, they don't necessarily have the outlets that they would normally have in terms of school or work."

 Henningsen couldn't speak to these specific cases but said violence of this nature follows a long cycle of abuse.

 "We're seeing the results of something that has actually happened over a period of time and it's escalated to this point," Henningsen said.

Henningsen said it's important to pay attention to the signs, including increased isolation.

"If you are noticing that a friend or family member is increasingly disconnected from you, that's a concern if it's not their normal behavior," Henningsen said. "Does this person's partner seem to be discouraging them from seeing their family? Is their partner really harsh with them."

Henningsen said there are many ways to support, which starts with being non-judgmental.

"You're there for them in any way they need," Henningsen said. "It can take planning. It can take time and that's OK."

Henningsen adds resources are widely available. She said you can call the TurnAround 24/7 hotline at 443-279-0379.

Holiday homicide

Baltimore County police responded to a deadly domestic violence shooting on Christmas Eve in Rosedale, where 30-year-old Mark Jones allegedly killed his 4-year-old son and injured a woman and a 1-year-old.

If you or someone you love is a survivor of abuse, help is available at thehotline.org or 1-800-799-7233.