Man Charged With Lighting Girlfriend On Fire
CHICAGO (STMW) -- A South Side man was ordered held on $900,000 bond Saturday, charged with lighting a woman on fire, causing her to suffer burns to over 40% of her body on Aug. 20.
Judge Donald Panarese ordered Andrew Martin held on $900,000 bond Saturday, according to a Cook County Criminal Court clerk.
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Martin, 52, of the 6000 block of S. St. Lawrence Ave., was charged with attempted murder, heinous battery and aggravated domestic battery, according to police.
Officers responded to a call of a fire on Aug. 20 at Martin's address and found firefighters extinguishing a fire inside a garage, according to a police report.
Martin's girlfriend was inside, suffering from major burns over 40% of her body.
Though she was was taken to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County initially in serious condition, she was able to identify Martin as the person who poured a flammable liquid on her and lit her on fire, according to the report.
A condition update for her was available Saturday afternoon.
The victim told paramedics that Martin said words to the effect of, "I'm-a pour gas on you and light you on fire,'' to her prior to the attack, according to the report.
A motive was not known immediately.
Martin is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing Oct. 21 in Domestic Violence Court (Br. 64), according to the clerk.
Calumet Area detectives are investigating.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2010. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
