A crazed Florida woman asked to borrow a lighter and then set a man she had been arguing with on fire Saturday, causing third-degree burns over nearly his entire body, police said.
Alleged firebug Tanisha Shelton, 45, had been in a heated dispute with Nathaniel Devon Mathis, 33, hours before the alleged immolation, according to a police report obtained by CBS.
The arguing came to an abrupt conclusion when Shelton left, ominously threatening that she’d eventually return with someone to attack Mathis, the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office said.
Shelton reappeared hours later carrying a bucket holding a plastic bag filled with accelerant, according to police.
The alleged pyro then asked a witness if she could borrow a lighter – before dousing Mathis in the accelerant and setting him alight, cops said.
Emergency crews arrived around 6 p.m. at the intersection of Northwest 63rd Street and Northwest 25th Avenue and found an unconscious and badly burned Mathis, according to authorities.
Officials said medical staff at Jackson Memorial Hospital determined Mathis, who is in critical condition, had second- and third-degree burns over 80% of his body and is not expected to survive.
Shelton was pepper sprayed by one witness as she attempted to leave the scene, cops said.
IDs provided to police by other witnesses helped cops find her and bring her into custody, according to the police report.
The alleged firestarter is currently in custody at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, where she faces attempted murder and arson charges, according to jail records.
Attorney information was that Shelton was not available.
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