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Store Clerk Doused With Gas, Set On Fire In Escambia County
March 31, 2022
An Escambia County convenience store clerk was doused with gasoline and set on fire Wednesday afternoon at a Circle K on W Street at Massachusetts Avenue.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, 30-year old Betty McFadden was told not to panhandle earlier in the day outside the service station. She left, retrieved a gas can, and panhandled for the gas before going inside.
McFadden then “followed that employee and started throwing matches on that employee and caught the employee on fire, then calmly walked out of the store,” Simmons said.
The sheriff said the employee has life threatening injuries and was transported to an area hospital.
A second employee was burned while attempting to help the victim.
A K-9 unit tracked down and arrested McFadden. She has been charged with attempted murder. According to the Escambia County Jail, she is homeless.
Comments
44 Responses to “Store Clerk Doused With Gas, Set On Fire In Escambia County”
I pray the clerk victims can recover. I previously worked at a convenience store, so I understand. I had robbery at gunpoint and grab-and-run happen on my night shifts. If the clerk dies, this criminal should get the extreme penalty, in my opinion.
REGARDING:
“we no longer have the death penalty as far as I know.”
We do still have it. It is nearly randomly applied and not at all for failed murder attempts.
REGARDING:
“… let’s leave it in God’s hands.”
Actually, scripture claims government IS God’s hands for earthly justice. We are our own government and ruler. We are not required to allow homicidal people freedom to kill. Obviously we are very flawed, but we should try to protect each other from evil people.
By the way, folks, if you drench me in gasoline, I intend to hug you before you ignite me. If I die, we die. Hmmm, that might make me a murderer if I kill you when you kill me. I’ll risk it.
David for togetherness
She deserves no mercy. She has repeatedly proven herself to be a danger to society. Crank up the chair. This one has earned it!
Prayers to those injured either by the action in itself or by relation to those injured.
We are not God and I’ve been struggling with this all day but we have laws in place for a reason and we no longer have the death penalty as far as I know. So I can only pray that the law does the right thing and that the criminal gets the help she needs if she’s mentally ill or she serves the amount of time that is deemed fit for such a serious action. Either way let’s leave it in God’s hands and pray for healing for the victims.
Homeless, mentally ill, poor – it makes no difference. What this woman did was one of the most inhumane things you can do to another person. I’ve suffered 2nd degree burns over a large portion of my body. The pain is indescribable. I didn’t require skin grafts or burn therapy like this lady will. I am glad she survived but her trials are only beginning. May God Bless her and hers and grant them strength.
The MONSTER that did this should be locked away for the remainder of her days. If she did this once – and walks – she will do it again.
,,,,,,,,,, she is homeless.
Not anymore!
Hmmm.
Other judges who have had Ms. McFadden before their court:
Judge Joel Boles, appointed by Jeb Bush withheld adjudication on the resist/battery on officer. Not a liberal judge.
Judge Coleman Robinson, appointed by Rick Scott, sentenced McFadden to time served (364 days) on aggravated assault w/deadly weapon. Not a liberal judge.
Y’all keep being y’all.
CONTEMPLATING:
“And there it is, making excuses for the perp.”
More like reminding folks that all are not guilty of the evil of some. SHE did an evil thing. OTHERS are ALSO homeless, ALSO crazy, ALSO unhappy somehow managed to NOT try to murder anyone.
David for better people
@Stephanie
“Some liberal judge has let her walk multiple times”
The last time McFadden was arrested (for battery and drugs), in 2019, the judge was Jennifer Frydrychowicz, who was appointed by Governor Rick Scott – hardly a liberal.
And that case ended in nolle prosequi. Thanks, conservative judge!
Go directly to the Florida State Mental Hospital, Chattahoochee, Florida. If the Judge lets her off, then victims should sue the Judge.
Look up jail view. Been homeless for years. Been arrested several times and drugs involved in some arrest. She definitely will be off the streets now. Sad
I don’t care if she was homeless or not. Nor do I care if she was broke and unemployed. There is no excuse to do this. I will save my prayers for the innocents who were burned and will now face excruciating pain and a long recovery. I hope the criminal gets a long sentence and has many years in jail to think about her actions.
I honestly don’t care if this lady has mental problems. No sympathy for people who set others on fire. I’m a bleeding heart liberal but you have to draw a line somewhere, right?
I go into this Circle K often as it is near my work. The clerks are nice people and friendly. The person that did this has had a history of criminal assault and other charges. Mentally ill? More like allowed to be running free when she should be in a home or institution….bring back State Mental Hospitals!
send them back to the city, where they came from.
commissioners need to make an ordinance making it illegal to panhandle, beg for money, ETC. let the ALCU support them.
Some liberal judge has let her walk multiple times on
aggrevated battery on an officer, homicide, drug use, trespassing, battery. She is homeless and needs to be locked up for good.
SPECIAL CRIMES DESERVE SPECIAL PENALTIES !!!!! PRAY THE VICTIM DOES WELL.
“She panhandled for the gas before going inside.” A terrible irony. Again, stop giving to the panhandlers!
Stop enabling the panhandlers. Simply stop giving them money at the street lights. We all know some are there because of mental illness, some choose to live a life of vagrancy, some are post incarcerated, etc. However, making it harder for them to panhandle will cause some of them to make an extra effort to utilize the social services they know that’s out there and get a job. No easy answer but at least don’t enable them by handing the beggars a wad of money. It makes you feel better but it is naivety.
Not only attempted murder,but pre-mediated,she panhandled for the gas,&throw in hate crime also
Homelessness, unemployed, mental illness, etc. there is absolutely no excuse for assaulting and attempting to kill someone trying to do their job in such a cruel and disgusting way. That was not an emotional act she had time to gather her thoughts on what to do to her victims I can not imagine the pain and anguish the victim and family are going through. My thoughts and prayers to the victims and families.
Well now she will not be homeless anymore 3 squares a day nice comfy bed. 5 dollar copay for medical and dental. Day room and gets to go to the recyard. All why us hard working folks pay for it all. Coming from a correctional officer
We don’t know the reason why the lady did this. From the sound of the article, she probably is mentally ill. There are many reason that people are homeless; some are lazy, a lot have mental issue, some are just down on their luck. To get a job you have to have an address, these people don’t. I’m not negating some of the thoughts on here. Stand back and think about what might be going on. There is a lot of evil in this world and I don’t understand it either, but I don’t need to know. All I need is faith.
@Angela. You think lack of a job is what causes someone to set a person on fire?
@Wanda… It’s uncalled for? Setting someone on fire is “uncalled for”? Lol
“Many of the homeless are harmless people. But you never know what will set them off. This woman clearly has had a mental breakdown.
Pray for them all”
And there it is, making excuses for the perp. Shaking my Head how do you know it’s a “mental breakdown” and not pure EVIL?! Stop making excuses!
@Gene literally the last sentence of the article.
This ain’t sad! The Woman needs to get a job! Plenty of HELP WANTED signs every where you look. They need to quit begging…but we must STOP giving!!! Prayers for the 2 people actually working making a honest living! May their injuries not be so bad!
That’s an evil thing to do.
Where in this article did it say she was Homeless, did i miss something?
Definitely have a homeless problem here. Iv lived here for 30 years and iv never seen it this bad. It got way worse when they made panhandling legal. I can’t tell you how many time iv been harassed in traffic at a red light because I won’t give someone money when I’m struggling myself. Most of them are alcoholics or drug users.
Case law says you cannot interfere with a panhandle right to panhandle. The courts, lawyers, judges, have fumbled this beyond belief.
Cops are unable to enforce panhandle laws across Florida even with the law on the books.
ACLU as well.
Now you are seeing devolve into carnage. You wanted it, you got it.
I see these type of people around here everywhere. They are almost as abundant as flies. What/who is inviting them or what makes it ok to break the law panhandling, harassing or being a threat in general? They must have a network through each other that it’s ok to be a Bum here.
Terrible what happened to the clerk! God be with them.
Wow…. I hope the clerks make a full recovery, but as for big betty there maybe she should get the same done to her…
This is so uncalled for.I pray for the lady that was caught on fire,people have gone crazy
I’m with you fellers.
Burns are one of the most painful injuries.
Many of the homeless are harmless people. But you never know what will set them off. This woman clearly has had a mental breakdown.
Pray for them all.
Some liberal Judge will let her walk like the rest of the thugs.. prayers tor the victim
I have had enough of the vagrants in our area. The time has long been upon us to deal with these people. These people choose to break the law constantly, but nothing is ever done.
This person is pure evil. There is a special place in hell for her.
Time to start rousting the panhandlers, Escambia County has become a hobo sanctuary
Burn her alive, an eye for an eye!
My God in Heaven. Past time to hand hold your piece in public.
What has this world come to,what is wrong with people nowadays, and she should absolutely be charged wiith attempted murder !