Metro Man Charged With Attempted Murder After Allegedly Lighting A Couple On Fire

A metro man who’s accused of dousing a couple in lighter fluid and setting them on fire is charged with their attempted murders. 

Initially charged with arson last week, reports show police arrested Michael Madison when he returned to the scene of the crime.

Witnesses said Madison was identified as a person of interest after he inquired about what was going on.

“Is everything alright? What's going on? He said I stay in the back,” said witness Cory Spencer.         

Cory Spencer was collecting his garbage when a woman on fire came running from the corner of his home.

“On fire from the knees on up, she was so calm for a person to be on fire,” said Spencer.   

Spencer raced the burning woman into his home.

“I told her go get in the shower! Go get in the shower!” said Spencer. 

He said while the woman extinguished the flames, he went to help her boyfriend.

“He was mostly about her. Is she alright? Is she okay? Just screaming,” said Spencer.  

Spencer said the woman asked how badly she had been injured.

“Asking mostly about her looks, am I ugly? Is this going to make me ugly?” said Spencer. 

“There were police cars everywhere, ambulances, fire trucks,” said witness Tymber Holt.                               

The vicious attack happened along the fenceline of a cat grooming business where Holt is employed.  

“Shocked, kind of appalled,” said Holt.            

Police said the couple had been sleeping along the fence when they were intentionally doused in lighter fluid and set on fire.

Minutes later, Holt said her employer's cameras captured police arresting Michael Madison a transient who lived nearby in a makeshift shelter.

“We believe he's the one who lit the field on fire multiple times,” said Holt. 

Spencer said he's thankful the couple survived--despite the woman suffering burns to 85 percent of her body.

“I knew she was going to make it through it,” said Spencer.

Records show Madison is a felon and was paroled in connection to a robbery in Kansas. 

Madison remains in jail. His bond was set at one million dollars.