A Florida woman has been charged with attempted murder after allegedly returning to confront a man she had argued with earlier in the day, borrowing a lighter from a bystander and using it to set him on fire in a shocking attack that left him fighting for his life.
Tanisha Shelton, 45, was arrested Saturday, October 24, after deputies found 33-year-old Nathaniel Devon Mathis unconscious and suffering from life-threatening burns in northwest Miami-Dade County.
According to investigators, the violence followed a heated argument between Shelton and Mathis several hours earlier.
During that confrontation, Shelton allegedly threatened to leave and return with someone who would hurt him.
But authorities say what happened next was far more disturbing.
According to the arrest report, Shelton returned carrying a white bucket containing a plastic bag filled with an unidentified flammable liquid.
She then approached a witness and asked to borrow a lighter.
Investigators say Shelton walked up to Mathis, resumed their earlier argument and poured the liquid over him before setting him on fire.
The attack unfolded around 6 p.m. near Northwest 63rd Street and Northwest 25th Avenue in the Brownsville area of Miami-Dade County.
Witnesses immediately alerted authorities as the situation descended into chaos.
Deputies from the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office arrived shortly after 6 p.m. and discovered Mathis unconscious with extensive injuries.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue personnel rushed him to the Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital, where doctors determined that he had suffered second- and third-degree burns across at least 80% of his body.
His injuries were so severe that he was unable to speak, according to local reporting.
Authorities described his condition as extremely critical, with the arrest report indicating that doctors did not expect him to survive.
As of Monday, October 26, the sheriff’s office had not announced his death, and he remained hospitalized in critical condition.
Meanwhile, witnesses reportedly took matters into their own hands as Shelton attempted to leave.
According to investigators, one person chased after her and sprayed her with pepper spray in an effort to stop her from escaping.
Other witnesses provided deputies with a description of the woman, including the clothing she was wearing.
Officers searched the surrounding neighborhood and soon located Shelton nearby, reportedly still wearing a brown dress and purple sneakers that matched the witnesses’ descriptions.
She was taken into custody without further incident.
Investigators later transported Shelton to the sheriff’s Homicide Bureau for questioning.
According to the arrest report, she requested legal counsel during the interview.
Shelton was subsequently charged with attempted first-degree murder and arson causing great bodily harm.
She was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center early Sunday morning.
The case took another turn Monday when Shelton appeared before a judge and was denied bond, according to NBC 6 South Florida.
Investigators have not publicly explained what sparked the initial argument or established the nature of the relationship between Shelton and Mathis.
The circumstances surrounding the attack remain under investigation.
Neighbors told local television reporters that disputes were not uncommon around the area, but authorities have not established whether the alleged attack was connected to any previous incidents.
The severity of Mathis’ injuries has made the case particularly troubling.
Major burns affecting such a large portion of the body can cause life-threatening complications, including infection, fluid loss and organ failure, requiring extensive emergency treatment and specialized care.
For Mathis and his loved ones, the immediate concern remains his survival.
For investigators, the focus is on establishing exactly what happened before the confrontation and gathering the evidence needed to support the criminal charges.
Shelton has not been convicted and is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office continues investigating the attack as Mathis remains under medical care.
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