A bizarre and senseless incident at a New Orleans nursing home left one 42-year-old woman dead from severe burn injuries. In a report at dailycomet.com, the victim and a 71-year-old woman went outside to the back of the home to smoke a cigarette. The victim was receiving treatment for scabies and had a large portion of her body wrapped in bandages.
While smoking cigarettes, the two women began arguing about something. The 71-year-old woman then lit the victim’s bandages on fire with her cigarette. The burns covered 80 percent of her body, and she died in the Baton Rouge General Medical Center burn unit one day later.
The story did not mention what the two women argued about or if the 71-year-old has a history of violence or mental illness. It is difficult to imagine what could cause her to set another person ablaze. New Orleans police arrested her, charged her with second-degree murder and aggravated arson. She is currently in the Orleans Parish jail.
The murder charge carries a mandatory life sentence, and the arson charge carries a 20-year prison sentence. It was a gruesome way for the victim to die, and hopefully her family will seek proper recourse in civil court.
Harrell & Nowak, L.L.C. – New Orleans injury lawyers