CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A man arrested for allegedly setting a woman on fire in Charleston told police he meant to target the victim’s boyfriend and another man.
“There was a motive. It wasn’t a random act. He specifically targeted two individuals and one that wasn’t necessarily wasn’t a target is the one who really got hurt,” said Lt. Steve Cooper, chief of detectives with the Charleston Police Department.
Cooper was a guest on Tuesday’s “580 Live” with Charleston Mayor Danny Jones heard on 580-WCHS, a MetroNews affiliate.
Carl Magee, 34, of California, confessed to the crime after he was arrested Monday night, according to police. He was taken into custody after allegedly breaking into two homes and stealing a bicycle in Kanawha City.
“We heard a sound that lead us to believe someone had just ran out, so we went around and Sgt. (Tyke) Hunt and a couple of other officers were able to get him down and handcuffed. As soon as they put the cuffs on him, he said ‘I’m glad you caught me,'” Cooper said.
Magee was charged with attempted murder, first degree arson, malicious wounding and burglary. He was arraigned in Kanawha County Magistrate Court Monday night.
Police said Magee is accused of dumping gasoline on Rachele Jarrett, 44, who was sleeping on a porch of an empty home on Randolph Street. She was then set on fire. The flames also spread to the rest of the home. As of Tuesday morning, Jarrett remained in critical condition.
All of those involved are part of the homeless community, Cooper said.
“(Magee) says he has a relative in Ohio that told him he could make good money Charleston, West Virginia selling drugs, so that’s what brought him here,” Cooper said.
On the way to his arraignment, Magee told reporters he’s a good person who did not intend to commit the crime.
“I don’t consider myself to be crazy at all. I love people,” Magee said. “This act right here — I don’t know if it was voodoo, witchcraft or what, but they got me.”
Earlier on Monday, the City of Charleston announced a $2,500 award for information leading to an arrest. Surveillance video of the crime was also released to the public.
“The video is kind of the Holy Grail of this case. It’s a tragedy what happened, but the fact that it was captured on video — this would have been a real tragic mystery if it hadn’t been for that surveillance camera,” Cooper said.
Magee remains in the South Central Regional Jail on a $500,000 cash only bond.