The Orange County Criminal Lawyer Blog
A 45-year-old woman is facing charges of attempted first-degree murder and arson causing serious bodily injury after a man suffered severe burns in an alleged altercation in Miami-Dade County. The 33-year-old man was noted as being in critical condition with burns covering at least 80% of his body.
The alleged attack reportedly followed an argument between the two earlier that day. According to the arrest report, the woman threatened to leave and come back with someone to assault the man. She left and allegedly came back carrying a white plastic bucket containing an unidentified accelerant inside a plastic bag.
The woman reportedly borrowed a lighter from a witness to the incident, and allegedly poured the flammable substance on the man, using the lighter to set him on fire before trying to get away.
Witnesses helped police detain the suspect. One bystander used pepper spray to try to stop her from escaping, while others told officers what she was wearing. Officers found her nearby in clothing matching the given description and arrested her without incident.
The injured man was found unconscious near an intersection in Miami around 6:00 p.m. EMTs took him to the Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital for treatment. Medical staff reported that he had suffered second- and third-degree burns over most of his body. The authorities indicated that his chances of survival are slim.
Following her arrest, the suspect was taken to the Miami-Dade Police Department’s Homicide Division, and she requested legal representation. She was held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.
The reason for the dispute had not been made public at the time this was written, and the authorities have not disclosed the nature of the relationship between the two.
If you or someone you love is suspected of a criminal offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.