BECKLEY, W.Va. — The man charged for dousing his fiance with gasoline then lighting her on fire in front of two children will spend the rest of his life in prison.
In June, Dwayne Lane, 47 of Beckley, entered guilty pleas to charges of first-degree murder along with other charges that included child neglect and domestic battery.
The incident occurred at around on September 17, 2017 at 48 year-old Belinda Cox’s Earle Street residence. It started when Lane and Cox got into an altercation over a phone call Cox received the previous night.
Lane poured gasoline on Cox in the front yard before lighting her on fire. Two juveniles who witnessed the crime called 911.
Cox was taken to West Penn Burn Center in Pittsburgh where she died on October 4 from her injuries.
During Monday’s sentencing in Raleigh County Circuit Court under Judge Andrew Dimlich, Prosecuting Attorney Kristen Keller played the recording of the 911 call between a dispatcher and Cox’s 13 year-old daughter for the court. Cox’s 9 year-old niece could also be heard screaming in the background of the recording.
“My mom’s on fire…please hurry,” the girl yelled into the phone. “My step daddy got mad at her and he set her on fire.”
Keller also played video surveillance obtained by Beckley Police Detective Morgan Bragg from a nearby church. The video shows Cox engulfed in flames moving across the front yard of her home while Lane runs away toward Kanawha Street. Lane’s attorney at first objected to this evidence being presented, but Judge Dimlich overruled.
Prosecuting Attorney Kristen Keller plays Lane’s hour-long interview and eventual confession with Beckley PD Det. Bragg for the court. @WVMetroNews @WJLSNEWS pic.twitter.com/ejvt7eyho8
— Mike McCullough (@MikeMcC_Metro) August 13, 2018
“The evidence you gathered in this case, including the statements of the two children who were eyewitnesses and including the ultimate confession of this defendant,” said Keller. “What is depicted on the video truly and accurately reflect at least part of the events that resulted in Ms. Cox’s murder.”
Lane’s hour-long confession tape with Detective Bragg was also presented in front of the court.
“I can’t remember what she said, next thing I know it was total chaos,” said Lane. “Next thing I know I knew I (expletive) up. I seen that burst of flames.”
“I saw a ball of flames. I heard her holler ‘somebody help me’.”
Keller added Lane previously said he wanted the court to have the same amount of mercy on him as he did on Cox. Keller said she wished West Virginia still had a death penalty because Lane should receive it.
“Even in those states that allow the death penalty, cruel and unusual punishment is not allowed. So we cannot possibly by law give the defendant the degree of mercy he gave his victim because we will not be soaking him in gasoline. We will not be chasing him down to light him on fire.”
Dimlich sentenced Lane to life without mercy for the first degree murder charge, one to five years for two counts of gross child neglect creating the risk of serious bodily injury and ten months for domestic battery. Lane is also responsible for a $3,000 fine and must pay restitution and court costs.
All terms will run consecutively.