In a shocking incident from Tennessee, a man has been formally accused of attempted murder, aggravated assault, and arson, following allegations that he set his grandmother on fire.
Authorities have detailed in an arrest report that Christopher Medula, aged 39, was held by a witness until law enforcement officers arrived at the scene, as reported by WRCB.
The grandmother was urgently airlifted to a Nashville hospital, suffering from burns that covered 70 percent of her body.
The disturbing event unfolded on a Tuesday in the town of Soddy-Daisy. Medula allegedly poured gasoline over the elderly woman and used a lighter to ignite it before attempting to escape. However, a quick-thinking witness intervened and held Medula at gunpoint, preventing his escape.
WZTV reported that Medula allegedly confessed to the witness, claiming he “had to do it” because he believed his grandmother was “the devil.”
When deputies arrived, they found the grandmother conscious but severely burned and struggling to breathe, underscoring the gravity of the situation.
“Chris did it,” she told them. “He poured gas on me. He’s lost it.”
The report said the witness saw Medula trying to hold the door to the camper shut while the woman desperatedly tried to get out. When deputies arrived, they found her lying on the ground outside.
The grandmother is in critical condition in Nashville’s Tristar Skyline Medical Center. She has been removed from life support, the station said.
