A 69-year-old man was apprehended for pouring gasoline on his niece and igniting her in the West Perrine area of southwest Miami-Dade.
Police from the Miami-Dade Police Department came to a home near the intersection of Southwest 160th Street and South Dixie Highway after finding an unconscious woman with burns on her left arm at around 5:30 a.m. on Wednesday.
The victim was taken to Jackson South Medical Hospital by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue personnel, where she weakly mentioned “gas” while trying to communicate.
Later, the victim told detectives that she and her uncle, named Robert John Hope, had a dispute while in a car on Homestead Avenue.
After the argument, the victim left the car, and Hope threatened to set her on fire if she didn’t get back in. When she refused, Hope poured gasoline on her and set her ablaze.
The victim confirmed Hope’s identity as the assailant when shown a photo by detectives. Hope was apprehended at a nearby hospital where he confessed to the crime.
He is currently in custody, charged with attempted murder, and is being held without bail at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.
