MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. — A 45-year-old Florida woman is accused of setting a man on fire after an earlier dispute, leaving him with severe burns over approximately 80% of his body, according to authorities. The man was hospitalized in critical condition, and doctors reportedly did not expect him to survive.
Tanisha Shelton faces attempted murder and arson charges following the incident in northwest Miami-Dade County on Saturday, according to a police report obtained by CBS News Miami.
Police Describe Events Leading Up to the Fire
According to the police report, Shelton and Nathaniel Devon Mathis, 33, had been involved in a heated argument several hours before the alleged attack.
Authorities said Shelton left after the dispute but threatened to return with someone who would attack Mathis.
Police allege that Shelton later returned carrying a bucket containing a plastic bag filled with an accelerant. She reportedly asked a witness if she could borrow a lighter before allegedly pouring the accelerant on Mathis and setting him on fire.
The allegations are detailed in the police report cited by CBS News Miami. Shelton’s account of the events was not included in the information provided.
Victim Suffered Burns Across 80% of His Body
Emergency responders arrived at approximately 6 p.m. Saturday near the intersection of Northwest 63rd Street and Northwest 25th Avenue, where they found Mathis unconscious and suffering from severe burns, authorities said.
Mathis was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital for treatment. According to the police report, medical staff determined that he had second- and third-degree burns covering approximately 80% of his body.
He remained in critical condition, and doctors reportedly did not expect him to survive.
The extent of Mathis’ injuries underscores the severity of the alleged attack. Authorities have not provided further details about his medical condition in the information available for this report.
Witnesses Helped Police Locate Suspect
According to investigators, one witness pepper-sprayed Shelton as she attempted to leave the scene after the alleged incident.
Other witnesses provided identification information that helped law enforcement locate and take Shelton into custody, according to the police report.
Shelton was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in Miami-Dade County, where jail records listed attempted murder and arson charges.
Information about legal representation for Shelton was not available in the report.
The allegations remain subject to the legal process. Shelton is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
