BECKLEY, W.Va. — A Raleigh County man is now charged with murder after the death of the woman he allegedly set on fire.
Charges were upgraded by Beckley police Thursday morning in the case of Dwayne Michael Lane, 47, of Beckley, according to Raleigh County Prosecutor Kristen Keller. The move came after the overnight death of Belinda Cox, 48, who had been hospitalized at a Pittsburgh burn center since Sept. 17.
Cox suffered serious burns to more than 70 percent of her body. According to investigators, she and Lane had been fighting at an Earle Street home in East Beckley when Lane allegedly doused her with gasoline and set her on fire. He also allegedly tried to burn the house down that also had two young children inside.
Lane was originally charged with kidnapping, several counts of arson and neglect. He remains in the Southern Regional Jail.