ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) – St. Petersburg Police say a woman is in critical condition after she was set on fire by her boyfriend on Tuesday night.
Police said John M. Riggins, 37, was arguing with his girlfriend, Sheron Pasco around 8 p.m. when he allegedly took a gas can and poured the contents onto Pasco and set her on fire. The incident happened in the 2800 block of 24th Ave. S.
The victim’s uncle, Earnest Neal, was home when the fire started. Neal helped put the fire out after his niece came running out of a back room engulfed in flames.
Neal helped direct Pasco to the bathroom and put her in the tub.
“She was on fire from the feet all the way up. We directed her to the bathroom, cut the water on and started trying to put her out,” said Neal.
Neal said Riggins accused Pasco of cheating and that’s when the argument escalated. He said the couple has been staying with him for several months.
Neal said, Riggins, realizing what he’d done, tried to help put fire out, before leaving the residence.
Police later found him hiding in a vacant house next door. He was taken into custody around 11 p.m. and taken to a hospital for treatment of burns.
Police said there is probable cause to charge him with attempted murder.
“He has a history of arson, arson charge, of domestic violence, several charges, as well as battery on a law enforcement officer. So, he has a rather violent history,” said St. Petersburg Police Department Spokeswoman Yolanda Fernandez.
“This is a terrible situation, an extreme situation. For something, domestic violence, to escalate to this kind of level is really horrific.”
Pasco was taken to Tampa General Hospital with severe burns where she was in critical condition as of Wednesday afternoon.
Police have not yet been able to speak with Riggins.
The tragic incident is a painful reminder of what happened to another local woman. In November 2009, Audrey Mabrey’s husband, Christopher Hanney, doused her in gasoline and lit a match. Audrey was in a coma for six weeks. The mother of two suffered burns over 80 percent of her body. Audrey now works as an advocate for domestic violence victims. It is a passion near and dear to her heart. Read what she has to say about what happened to Sheron Pasco.
