A Mississippi woman has been ordered to spend 20 years in state prison after admitting she burned her ex-boyfriend so badly that he was left with permanent, life-changing injuries.
Kalena Stubbs, 51, pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated assault and received the maximum sentence allowed under state law, Madison County District Attorney John “Bubba” Bramlett announced on Wednesday, Dec. 3.
Bramlett described the man’s injuries as “horrific” and among the worst his office has encountered, noting that the damage will affect the victim for the rest of his life. He added that prosecutors hope the lengthy sentence offers the victim some measure of justice.
The case began on Jan. 16, when Madison County sheriff’s deputies responded to a call for medical help involving a burned individual. When they arrived at the home, they found the victim with severe burns covering his torso, upper arms and face.
Investigators quickly became suspicious when they realized the victim’s clothing was not burned, despite the extent of his injuries. Stubbs told deputies that her ex-boyfriend had fallen into a lit fireplace while holding a bottle of lighter fluid, and admitted she had changed his clothes before calling 911.
Deputies also noticed an open bottle of lighter fluid sitting on the mantle that did not appear to have been exposed to flames. Because of the severity of his injuries, the victim was unable to speak with investigators at the time. He was airlifted to the University of Mississippi Medical Center and spent months in burn units and nursing homes recovering from third-degree burns across his upper body.
When he eventually regained the ability to talk, the victim told authorities that the burns were not an accident. According to Bramlett, he reported that Stubbs had poured lighter fluid on him and set him on fire during an argument. Investigators said his account matched the burn patterns and locations on his body.
Stubbs’ attorney did not respond to a request for comment.
