MCMINNVILLE, Ore. – Police said a bipolar man who was off his medication and drinking heavily tried to trap his girlfriend inside their McMinnville home after setting it on fire Wednesday.
Neighbors said 38-year-old Krista Wiegel was busy packing up in order to leave her boyfriend, Larry Barnard, when the incident occurred at their doublewide manufactured home.
Neighbor Mardee Weiand said Barnard poured gas all over and used matches to ignite it. He then escaped from the burning home through a front window; he was naked after apparently shedding his burning clothes.
When Weiand stopped to ask him if anyone else was inside, "he just kind of glanced at me and walked across the street to their other house he was working on, smoking a cigarette – like nothing," she said.
Neighbor Tad Bliss heard the woman's screams and tried in vain to rescue her.
"I just felt really bad when she screamed, 'I'm going to die in here,' " Weiand said.
Police officers eventually found the woman on her back in the kitchen and were able to rescue her through a back door.
"Her hair was all burned up," Weiand said. "Her clothing was burned off in some spots…"
Though she was expected to survive, she was in critical condition at last check at Legacy Emanuel Hospital in Portland.
Meanwhile, Barnard, 38, is facing arson and assault charges and was booked into the Yamhill County jail on $170,000 bail.
His mother told KATU News he was out of work, upset at the recent
This is just a horrible and sick thing this guy did. He should rot in jail. (Disturbing,warning!!): click here to read the entire thread »