FYER MYERS, Fla. (WFLA) – The Fort Myers Police Department arrested a man on Tuesday for reportedly setting a woman on fire.
According to police, officers received a call at 3:30 p.m. about a woman who had been set on fire.
Officers responded to the scene on Evans Avenue to find Thelma Shelby had suffered burns to various area of her body.
She was taken to Lee Memorial Hospital, then transferred to the Tampa General Hospital Burn Unit in critical condition.
The victim’s daughter, Jennifer Cason, was on scene and told police that suspect Terry Palmer, 39, had argued with her mother earlier, left, then returned with a jug of flammable liquid to try and set her house on fire.
In the process, Palmer set his shirt on fire, turned to whisk away the flames, tossing the jug and catching Shelby’s clothes on fires.
Palmer fled the scene, but was located.
He was also taken to Lee Memorial Hospital for treatment, then arrested and charged with arson in the first degree and arson causing great bodily harm.
