Inset: Angel Nahle (Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office). Background: Angel Nahle appearing in court after being accused of setting his ex-girlfriend on fire in Phoenix (AZ Family/YouTube).
Authorities in Arizona say a Phoenix man, enraged after a breakup, showed his former girlfriend a bottle he claimed contained gasoline during a FaceTime call before going to her home — still connected on the call — and setting her ablaze.
Angel Nahle, 24, of Phoenix, was taken into custody this week in Maricopa County and is facing several felony counts, including aggravated assault and stalking, in connection with the May 25 attack, court records show.
According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by Law&Crime, investigators allege Nahle “intentionally burned” the woman just one day after she ended their relationship. Police said that after the breakup, he repeatedly called and texted her on FaceTime through the night, growing angrier when she did not answer.
At about 4 a.m. on May 25, the woman finally picked up one of the FaceTime calls, police wrote. During the call, Nahle allegedly shouted at her, accused her of cheating, and threatened to hurt her and set her vehicle on fire. Investigators said he also held up a water bottle containing what he described as gasoline and warned that he planned to use it.
Police say Nahle then showed up at the woman’s apartment without warning while the FaceTime call was still ongoing. The woman initially stayed inside her sister’s apartment because she was afraid of what he might do, but eventually went outside in an effort to calm the confrontation.
As the woman spoke with Nahle, he allegedly remained upset and continued pressing her about why the relationship had ended, the affidavit states. When she briefly turned away, investigators say Nahle moved toward her and threw an unknown liquid, believed to be gasoline, onto the left side of her body. She then allegedly heard him say “b—” and saw him holding a lighter near his waist. Moments later, the liquid ignited, setting the left side of her body and clothing on fire.
Nahle later told police that as his ex-girlfriend burned on the ground, “he realized that he loved her” and helped remove her burning shirt, according to the affidavit.
The woman was taken to a local hospital and treated for third-degree burns to her body, which led to multiple surgeries. Nahle allegedly “directed her to lie to medical staff” by claiming the burns resulted from a “vehicle carburetor fire,” the affidavit says.
“[The woman] reported that after the incident, Nahle remained with her constantly in the hospital, which she believes was to prevent her from telling hospital staff that Nahle was responsible for her burns, and later continued the relationship for several weeks, which she attributed to fear for her safety,” the affidavit says.
The victim told police she feared that if Nahle was released from jail “he would kill her,” according to the affidavit.
“She stated Nahle has threatened to kill her several times and he is capable of killing her based on the fact that he lit her on fire,” the affidavit says.
Nahle was arrested at his workplace in Tempe. He declined to answer any questions after being taken into custody.
The post Man fuming over breakup set his ex-girlfriend on fire, then remained with her ‘constantly’ during hospital stay to prevent her from talking: Police first appeared on Law & Crime.
