OGDEN, Utah, Dec. 8, 2024 (Gephardt Daily) — An Ogden man has been booked into jail after he allegedly threw gas on a woman, then set her on fire.
Ogden City Police were summoned to the residence of multiple adults early Friday morning.
“The complainant reported that a female party at this residence had suffered burns,” arrest documents say. “The victim could be heard by dispatchers screaming in the background of the call and could be heard yelling that someone had thrown gasoline on her and had set her on fire.”
Dispatchers heard the victim name the 57-year-old man she said had burned her. Gephardt Daily is withholding the name to protect the privacy of the victim.
“When officers arrived, the victim was found standing in the street and was observed to have several severe
burns to her face, chest, shoulder, and arm,” says an affidavit filed in the arrest of the alleged attacker.
“The victim’s hair was also observed to have been singed as it had shriveled on the side of her head. Based on the extent of the victim’s injuries, it appeared that the burning had caused serious bodily injury as they would likely result in serious permanent disfigurement.
“The victim reported that she had been in the northeast bedroom inside the residence with a friend from whom she was going to get a ride. The same friend had also agreed to give (the woman’s alleged attacker) a ride as well.
“The victim advised that she and (the 57-year-old) had been arguing on and off for several days ahead of this incident regarding (his) having sexual relations with another resident in the house, and that she had been making statements about her displeasure…
“As this occurred, the victim reported that (the man later arrested) entered the room, threw gasoline on her, and set the gasoline on fire resulting in the burn injuries to her person.”
A witness on scene reported to officers that she had observed the above conduct occur, and that (the alleged attacker) had further assaulted the victim by throwing her to the floor, straddling her, and strangling her with both hands for a short period. (He) then fled the residence through the back door, arrest documents say.
“During a security sweep, and subsequent search warrant service, inside the residence, officers observed that there was burn damage to a sofa, and a structural wall next to the sofa consisting of scorch marks. Based on the statements of the victim and the witness, it was known that the damage to the habitable structure had occurred by means of fire or explosion and where (the alleged attacker) had known that there were persons inside the residence.”
Police attempted to locate the alleged suspect, but initially were unsuccessful in finding him, the affidavit says. They obtained a warrant to ping his phone, and arrested him in Riverdale. He was arrested at about 10:44 p.m. Friday, and is being held without bail in the Weber County jail.
He is being investigated for alleged aggravated arson, assault resulting in serious bodily injury and possession of drug paraphernalia. If the case goes to trial, charges will be determined by the Weber County Attorney’s Office.
