New London

Navy Sailor Charged With Murder After Woman Found Dead, Baby Injured at House Fire Scene in New London

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A 23-year-old Navy sailor has been charged with murder after a woman was found dead and a 13-month-old child was found injured at a fire scene in New London Wednesday night.

A 911 call was made around 10:32 p.m. reporting a possible fire at a home on Sherman Street, police said.

Firefighters started working to extinguish the fire and found the woman with life-threatening injuries and removed her from the home. The 23-year-old victim was later pronounced dead at the scene, according to police.

The baby boy was rescued from a crib in a second-floor bedroom, police said.

The baby was taken to Lawrence + Memorial Hospital, then moved to Yale New Haven Hospital for observation. Police said his injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

The suspect, later identified as 23-year-old George Dodson, of New London, was found in the backyard with non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

According to court documents, Dodson told police he killed his wife with a hammer and then set the house on fire.

He told officers he was jealous, the documents said.

"We opened up our relationship and she found another man she loved more and I could not stand the thought of it, so I killed her," Dodson told police, according to court documents.

Dodson was charged with murder, criminal attempt at murder, criminal attempt at arson murder, first-degree arson, risk of injury to a minor, tampering with evidence, cruelty to animals, and reckless endangerment.

He was held on $3 million bond and appeared in court Thursday.

Dodson has been a member of the U.S. Navy for five years, according to Navy spokesperson Lt. Seth Koenig. He has been based in Connecticut for about three years, Lt. Koenig said.

Dodson is a second-class petty officer and works as an electronics technician for nuclear, according to Lt. Koenig. His status in the military has not yet changed, but it is too early to determine what the next steps are for the Navy, he said.

Naval criminal investigators are working with New London police on the case.

Police have not released the identity of the woman who was killed pending notification of her family.

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