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Mar 25, 2008 10:55 pm US/Central
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Man Charged With Setting Girlfriend On Fire
Victim's Family Alleges History Of Violence In 7-Year Relationship
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
A 21-year-old man faces up to 30 years in prison after he allegedly lit his girlfriend on fire in January, leaving her disfigured and in a coma until last week.
Judge Donald Panarese Jr. set bond for Damenique Traylor, of 841 W. 71st St., at $3 million during a hearing Tuesday, according to Cook County State's Attorney's office spokesman Andy Conklin.
Traylor was charged with heinous battery, a Class X felony, and faces between 6 and 30 years in prison, if convicted.
Heinous battery is knowingly causing a severe and permanent disability or disfigurement by use of a caustic or flammable substance.
"Everybody was afraid for Keaira," said Keaira Washington's aunt, Olga Nicole Terry.
She said that fear for her niece's safety has subsided a bit now that Traylor has been arrested.
The fire happened Jan. 15 at 3 a.m. at Traylor's residence. After the fire, Traylor took Washington, 18, to Saint Bernard Hospital and Health Care Center, where he said she had an accident and put too much lighter fluid on a barbeque grill. Washington was severely burned on her face and body, and was transferred to Stroger Hospital.
She came out of a 2-month coma last week told police what her family already suspected -- her boyfriend, Traylor, lit her on fire. When the woman regained consciousness, she told police, "'that son of a b---- lit me on fire,'" Wentworth Area police said.
"If it was one o'clock, or if it was three o'clock ain't nobody be barbecuing in January, below zero, come on!" Terry said. "You burned her up 'cause she wants to leave you. Point blank, simple as that, ain't nothing else.
"Then you burned yourself trying to put her out."
Washington's sister said Keaira dated Traylor for seven years and was often abused by him.
"He punched her in her eye, he choked her, he bit her, he set her on fire," Alyce Moore said.
Despite the charges, Traylor's family insists he did nothing wrong.
"To my knowledge, and to me, you know, that wasn't nothing but a freak accident," said Traylor's uncle Joseph Gipson.
"He tried to help everybody that he could," said his mother, Rose Traylor. "He was real nice to people."
Washington was released when she came out of the coma, but was recently re-admitted to Stroger Hospital when the burns became infected. She remains at the hospital in "bad shape," according to Wentworth Area police.
Traylor said the fire occurred when the two were arguing because she wanted to go to her aunt's house. He became angry about the state of their relationship and allegedly doused her with lighter fluid.
While "chasing her" with a lighter, "she went up in flames," according to Wentworth Area police.
Traylor had three prior arrests, one in Sept. 2007 for domestic battery involving his father, one for resisting a peace officer and a third for battery.
Traylor turned himself in to the Englewood District police station Monday night.
CBS 2's Dana Kozlov and the STNG Wire contributed to this report.
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