MERRITT ISLAND, Fla. (WFLA) — A lady was left severely burned on 50% of her physique after her boyfriend set fireplace to her residence as she napped, in response to an arrest affidavit.
William Clements Jr., 66, is accused of deliberately setting his girlfriend’s residence on fireplace in an try to kill her.
Brevard County officers responded to the home fireplace on April 4, the place the sufferer was trapped inside her bed room. An space within the hallway on one aspect of the house, together with a bed room on the opposite aspect, was discovered burning— an indicator of deliberately set fires.
The preliminary origin and reason behind the hearth was found to be from a five-gallon fuel can, discovered half full with fluid with an odor of gasoline inside a bed room, the affidavit mentioned. Two further factors of origin had been found on a pile of clothes between two dressers and one other pile of garments within the middle of the bed room. One other two-gallon fuel container was discovered within the kitchen.
A neighbor mentioned a person named “Billy” had set the hearth and run away “in a rush.” Later recognized as Clements, deputies found he was the lady’s boyfriend of 9 months and had lived within the residence for 4 months.
Deputies needed to “forcefully take away a storm shutter” over her bed room window, break the glass window, and break down her headboard to rescue her. Her canine, Sweet, was additionally within the bed room and rescued via the window.
“God saved her as a result of the hearth solely hit the top of the mattress,” Angela Klusek informed NBC affiliate WESH.
The girl was struggling to breathe and had pores and skin peeling off her physique. Authorities mentioned she suffered burns to 50% of her physique and will hardly converse as a consequence of her throat being burned. She was airlifted to a close-by hospital in Orlando.
Officers spoke to the sufferer on the hospital, who mentioned she had gone to take a nap round 1:30 p.m., when she awoke to the scent of gasoline. Seeing flames beneath her door, she tried to go away the room, however was unable to because of the door being absolutely engulfed.
“He couldn’t get to her, fortunately, or he would have—we’re positive—he would’ve poured gasoline on her,” Klusek added.
When deputies tracked Clements down on a close-by road, he requested them, “You are right here for me, proper?” A recent burn mark was discovered on his proper index finger and accelerants had been discovered on his footwear.
“The night time earlier than, he introduced her flowers and chocolate,” Klusek informed WESH. “I do know there have been a number of, a number of cans of gasoline present in the home. Poured it in every single place.”
In response to the affidavit, the lady mentioned Clements beforehand made a remark to her saying, “You do not kill a girl, you simply completely disfigure her.” He additionally beforehand zip-tied her fingers collectively and repeatedly punched her, knocking her entrance tooth out, and sexually assaulted her at knife level on separate events.
Clements is going through expenses of first-degree arson, tried first-degree homicide and cruelty to animals involving dying, ache or struggling, court docket information present.
“He didn’t reach what he needed to do, and that reveals the power of this household,” Klusek mentioned. “Now, it’s, let’s rebuild. Let’s preserve him away for the remainder of his life.”
The doc additionally revealed Clements’ violent historical past, referring to a Tennessee rape case from August 1993 the place he was convicted on spousal rape cost and three counts of particularly aggravated kidnapping.
