Prosecutor: Man suspected of setting girlfriend on fire admits to crime from hospital bed
May 8, 2014, 7:18 AM | Updated: 8:29 am
A Puyallup man, accused of setting his girlfriend on fire, has allegedly admitted to the crime from his hospital bed.
Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist said Angel Reyes told investigators his girlfriend egged him on.
“He’s been to federal prison, and he says he’s taken anger management classes. But the classes, obviously, didn’t do him any good,” said Lindquist.
Neighbors at the Puyallup mobile home park where the incident occurred saw the girlfriend coming running out of her home in flames, screaming for help on Monday night.
They put out the flames with garden hoses and medics took 35-year-old Maria Bazan to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle with burns covering most of her body.
Bazan is still hospitalized with serious burns. She was last reported in critical condition.
Neighbors reported Bazan told them she was knocked out by Reyes and woke up on fire.
About three hours later flames erupted and destroyed the home at the Hidden Glen Mobile Home Park.
Reyes burned himself in the event and drove off. He was arrested in Lakewood. He is also recovering at the hospital from his injuries.
“In the hospital, he made a variety of statements. Among other things, he said he was so angry he blacked out. He got the gas can out with the intent to intimidate his girlfriend,” said Lindquist.
Reyes has been charged with attempted murder, arson, assault, and resisting arrest.
The Associated Press and MyNorthwest.com’s Alyssa Kleven contributed to this report.
