A 38-year-old Washington man was charged with first-degree murder yesterday in the stabbing death of a woman in her Glen Burnie apartment.

Police said the victim, Mary Gadson, 34, was found stabbed to death after a struggle in the apartment in the 7800 block of Tall Pines Court that she, at one time, had shared with a man.

Detective Sgt. Rick Tabor, of the county police, said that the man moved out about a month ago.

A man went to the victim's apartment at least twice yesterday and killed her after an argument during the second visit, police alleged.

Sergeant Tabor confirmed accounts that neighbors heard sounds of a struggle and the victim screaming for help just before she was killed.

"It looked like there had been quite a struggle," he said.

He said that the weapon was recovered but declined to describe it or say where it had been found.

He said that the victim shared the apartment with her brother, but that the brother was not at home when she was killed.

Officers responding to a call about a domestic disturbance in the apartment complex shortly after noon saw a man with blood on his shirt, who fled when officers tried to talk to him, according to Cpl. Maxwell Frye, a department spokesman.

As one group of officers chased the man, other officers went to the apartment, where the body was found, police said. The man was apprehended in about a half mile from the apartment.

Thomas General Jr. of the 1600 block of N. Capital St. was charged with first-degree murder.