Explosives connected to old Howard County stalking case detonated

Deputy State Fire Marshals detonated explosives that were discovered by a passerby in a wooded area of Linganore in Frederick County over the weekend, authorities in Howard County confirmed Monday.

Investigators determined the explosives were connected to a man who had been convicted of assault following a long-term stalking case in Howard County nearly 20 years ago.

In 2000, authorities say Alan Chmurny was charged with assault after pouring mercury into the vents of one of his coworkers' cars. After his conviction, Chmurny committed suicide by openly ingesting cyanide in open court in 2001. He later died at a nearby hospital, authorities say.

On Sunday at around 2:10 p.m., authorities say Deputy State Fire Marshals located a container filled with bomb-making materials and a loaded handgun in the wooded area in Linganore, as well as a series of documents connected to Chmurny, who they say lived about a half-mile away from the scene.

"We are glad that these dangerous materials were discovered and could be destroyed safely," said State Fire Marshal Brian Geraci in a statement. "It was quite a surprise to learn they were connected to an old criminal stalking case in which a woman could have been seriously harmed.

Authorities say that no one was injured in the discovery of detonation of the devices.