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Subscribe to RSSSurveillance footage shows a woman who was set on fire during an argument at a Florida gas station.
In a 911 call released Tuesday, a woman who was severely burned at a Florida 7-Eleven is heard telling police, “He set me on fire! OK! On fire!”
The woman, who has yet to be identified, is recovering from severe wounds to her face and body, NBCMiami.com reported.
“Hurry up! Please, please, please. I’m burned,” the woman told the dispatcher.
Asked if she needed paramedics, the woman responded, “Yes, yes, yes!” She was then asked her age and said she’s 34.
“He’s still outside, he has a knife, he set me on fire,” the victim said.
The woman was found with severe burns to her face and body, and parts of her shirt were still on fire on the ground when authorities arrived at Boynton Beach gas station store, according to the police affidavit.
Roosevelt Mondesir, 52, was arrested Monday on a charge of attempted first-degree murder after he drenched his son’s mother in gasoline, set her ablaze and then chased her with a long knife at the gas station, Boynton police said. Police found him hiding in nearby bushes after he fled the scene, leaving his car at the gas station.
Palm Beach County Sherrif's Office
This undated police photo shows Roosevelt Mondesir, 52, charged with attempted first-degree murder.
In another newly released 911 call, a witness reported, "There’s this guy, he has a knife, there’s fire around the entrance of the 7-Eleven.”
Surveillance video from the gas station shows the woman running into the convenience store, screaming as she tries to shut the front door. She can be heard telling a man to leave her alone, and then a man pulls her out of the store. Moments later she is seen running around outside the gas station engulfed in flames.
According to police reports, the victim had driven to the gas station to meet Mondesir for their “time-sharing exchange.” She told authorities they share custody of their 4-year-old son.
But when Mondesir arrived, the woman realized their son was not in his car. Police reports said she turned to leave, but he got out of his car with a red gas can and began dousing her body and car with gasoline.
Mondesir appeared in Palm Beach County bond court Tuesday and pleaded not guilty. He was denied bond and told he would have to pay for his own attorney.
The victim had reportedly filed a protective order to keep Mondesir away from her, saying that he was a threat. She alleged that he cut up furniture and threw away all of her belongings around the house and threatened to hurt her, according to Palm Beach County court records.
“Police have been called to the house on many times,” she wrote. “On March 26 he hit me and I hit him back and was arrested.”
She also said that she left and got her own place but was threatened daily after that through text and voicemail messages.
To the dismay of the victim’s attorney, family court Judge Thomas Bardull denied the victim’s request just an hour after she presented it, citing insufficient evidence for the protective order, court records said.
“Family court didn’t do its homework,” attorney David Fuchs told NBCMiami.com. “Family court had reason to believe that this man had assaulted this lady before. They should at a minimum have called the authorities up in Palm Beach County to see and confirm the background of this guy,” Fuch said.
The woman is currently recovering from burns at the Delray Medical Center in Delray Beach, Fla., and is expected to survive.
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Crikey!
WTF is going on in Florida lately? Between the baby murderer, the face eater and the fire starter I don't think I'm ever going to Florida again.
You should probably just not leave your home. Crazy stuff happens everywhere.
@Give it a rest! - All the cops getting into trouble/speeding, Casey Anthony, Martin/Zimmerman. Florida - the Eastern California.
I'm going to start building my bunker to hide from the world when I get home from work.
lol
Prolly on Bath salts. Thought he would be smart and try to cook the meat before he ate it...
Family court should pay for the woman's hospital bills, since they denied the restraining order that she so obviously needed!!!
If possible sue the pants off the judge. Then again the whole judicial system is out off wack
Blame on the heat wave. It's going to be a hot summer.
Judge Thomas Bardull = FAIL !!!!!!!!!!
What kind of garbage are we raising in America any more? And we claim to be civilized? SH.T!
Hey, Florida ----- WOOD CHIPPER !
The problem is, unless it was fire or bullet proof, that little piece of paper probably wouldn't have protected her from this guy.
Hope she recovers....
Something is terribly wrong with judges. I applied for a restraining order against my ex-wifes new BF on behalf of my son after he hit him, threw sand in his face, and was a complete jerk to him. He wrongly assumed I was jealous. HA! Not one little bit. Then sure enough his mom had to find out the hard way what kind of guy he was. She never believed me or her own son as to the things he was doing.
The sad thing is this happens a lot in family court. My BF's kids mother has been to rehab once and was found to have drugs in her system later but nothing was ever done because they couldn't get in to see the judge assigned to their case. Recently she was found with drugs in her home and he was told by CPS that he did not have sufficient evidence that her drug use was a danger to the kids. He's been dealing with this for five years and it seems that the only way anything will happen is if someone gets injured or worse. Hopefully it will not come down to that but it's sad that the judicial system doesn't do anything to stop this.
"Yo honor, I'd lie to plea no guilty, yo honor."
"Sir, we have you on surveillance video lighting the victim on fire."
"Yo honor, I'd lie to plea the fif."
"What my client is trying to say, your honor, is that he was mentally and emotionally compromised at the time of the incident, due to a troubled upbringing and a substance abuse problem, for which he has been seeking counseling. It isn't his fault. It's a failure of society to provide for his needs."
Ah, courts in America.
There should be NO protective orders. For every failure, like this one, there are probably 100 innocent, and good fathers, who these orders are used against during a divorce. They are more often just abused, and do you really think it would have stopped this guy? No, a paper order will never stop a violent attack.
Kevin you're obviously one of these abusers and predators that have had a protective order against you, no one else would say that there should be NO protective orders. This guy has proven, without a shadow of a doubt that he's dangerous, only someone just as dangerous and sick would defend him. Pathetic.
tz-3189354, clearly you don't know what you are talking about. My ex and her lawyer used them as a tactic during our divorce. I had to defend three...all dropped on her words only. I also have her under oath that I never hit her, and in fact, I lose my temper only once every 5 to 10 years.
7 years after the divorce, she is still healthy, and kicking.
I also do not get where you derived that I am defending anyone. You clearly just can't read for comprehension. Again, a piece of paper would not have stopped him, but are all too often used against innocent men. If you do not know that this happens regularly, you are simply uninformed.
Kevin, "reading for comprehension"? I agree with tz! You clearly stated that there should be NO protection orders? This woman was set on FIRE, dude? And it could have been prevented? How would you feel if your DAUGHTER was set on FIRE by her ex??? You also made it quite clear that you are one of the 100 good guys compared to this bad one. Sorry, not sure where you are getting your numbers, but if you even look at those of you who actually pay your child support, I don't think you will come up with a number like "100%". Don't get on here and say that there should be NO protection orders when innocent women are been abused and set on fire just because your ex screwed you over. If she actually set you on FIRE, I think you have an argument. Otherwise....suck it up and ACT like the "probably 100 innocent, and good fathers". You sure don't act like you are in that category with comments like that. Seriously. Dude.
PS Kevin, I guess I am not done. To honestly sit there and say that a piece of paper would not have stopped him and position your defense on this like you have something to defend is beYOND ridiculous. THIS WOMAN WAS SET ON FIRE. Grow up. Any by the way...we all can see the video. I don't think this poor lady is using "he set me on fire" as a "tactic." Good LORD!!!
Carol Anne, and you clearly can't read either: How many times have women with "protection orders" been hurt or murdered? I have read enough of them over the years to know that a stupid piece of paper will not save you from a determined attacker.
In the meantime, they are abused by women ALL THE TIME in divorce court (they cost me $15,000 in legal fees, and I did absolutely nothing to warrant them). My reasoning not to have them is akin to the old expression, "it is better to let 10 guilty men go, than to lock up one innocent man". Too many innocent men lose access to their children by protection order abuse.
I feel really bad for this woman, and totally agree it is wrong and horrible, but nothing would have stopped her ex.
By the way, why is it that you two ignore my main point that a piece of paper does not really protect anyone, and they are abused? I will answer that: Because you can't defeat the logic, and reality.
But keep defending your point, as I am sure it will make you feel all warm and fuzzy like you are actually (not really) accomplishing something.
Ladies:
I have five daughters and a bunch of grand daughters. I tell them this.
If he screams and yells at other drivers, Get away from him NOW.
If he gets mad when a baby cries, he's NOT a nice person.
If he doesn't open doors for you, find someone that does.
Good advice. Don't forget if he abuses animals, run for your life.
Or if he takes conspiracy theories far beyond the point of fun where it's a serious business (ie has a cabinet full of documents linking events together).
Well, what do say to the boys.
Great Advice Grandma! Here's another clue - pay attention to how he treats his mother/grandmother/sisters. If he is disrespectful to them, he is gonna be to you also. There is no difference in his mind - he will abuse all females who get close to him. If you have children and choose to take the abuse, he is teaching your children how to behave; then you are part of the problem also.
Arizona, that is the most reasonable thing I have ever seen you post on this site.
Here another one Arizona. If he pays attention to other women (look) while he's with you Leave him! Respect the one you with!
Good advice however...
I will occasionally scream at an a-hole driver that puts my life at risk with their careless driving. However I am the utmost of gentlemen and never yell at my girlfriend! ALWAYS open doors and treat her like the princess she is.
Basically I make sure that I am the kind of man that I would want my daughter to be with. Daughters look to their fathers and how they treat women. It has a lot to do with what they think is acceptable in a relationship.
This guy deserves to be doused with fire and lit up as punishment. The amount of pain he put her through and the suffering she is undoubtedly going to endure over the course of her life for this is terrible. I say he gets treated like the animal he is!
Yeah, because obviously it's f*cking criminal to smile and be polite to your waitress... Avert your eyes! Another female! Oh God!!!! (PS: that's called insecurity-- a by-product of being unduly self-conscious).
What about the 4 year old? Where is the child?
Probably with this scumbag's new girlfriend. It wouldn't surprise me if the little boy never sees his mother again.
At home sleeping at the fathers house.
What about their son? Where was/is he? Is he safe??
@
she calls 911 and tells them that he set her on fire and she is now burned.
they respond with: "do you need paramedics?"
um... yea, I'd say so. way to waste precious time with an absurd question
Well, how old are you first?
No age, no service.
I know, right? Obviously if she's set on fire she needs a paramedic, and I don't know why they would keep her on the phone with a question as trivial as "how old are you?" considering she was on fire!
She was no longer on fire when she called 911...in fact if you read the article she speaks about the fire as past tense. She doesn't say...he's setting me on fire, or I am on fire.
So yes the dispatch needs to get all the information they can from her in order for the paramedics to be prepared when they arrive.
Sounds to me like she got a bum wrap all the way around. He hits her, she hits back, she gets arrested. He sets her on fire and the 9-1-1 operator asks if she needs a paramedic? What an idiotic question! Send the police, send the fire department, send a paramedic and then send someone to find my child! No mention of where the child is....My goodness, what would she have to do to get a protective order? What makes them think he didn't harm their child?
No doubt a legal requirement. Take a CPR course and it's emphasized that you must ask"Do you need help". Turning blue is an indication. Yet no doubt someone will file a suit if they are sent when they are not asked for by the caller.
Set me on fire could mean many things. I've seen some set on fire, accidentally and intentionally. They aren't about to call anyone.
How horrific. I can't even imagine going through that. What more does this woman need to go through for her to get protection and full custody?
911 should have ordered her to "drop and roll" immediately...
Is that really the best advice for someone being chased by a man with a knife?
I'm glad they didn't ask her to pop lock and drop it
'Mondesir appeared in Palm Beach County bond court Tuesday and pleaded not guilty. He was denied bond and told he would have to pay for his own attorney.' Awesome!! That's the way it should be!
On another note, this poor woman deserved more attention when she filed for a PPO. I hope she fully recovers. Where's the 4 year old?
She deserved more attention? She filed for a PFA yet she was still having contact with him. Duh. Here's yer sign.
She was there to pick up her kid... not just there to "contact" him... You might want to think about putting up yer own sign.
Yes, and she was smart enough to do so in a public place. I'd say "not that it helped much", but who knows what he would have done had she been picking the child up at his home.
She was picking up her son from him you moron nosferatu. Geeez get a fricken clue, she's never supposed to see her son again because he's an abusive jerk?
@nosferatu.... yes she did have to have contact with him, as they had court appointed joint custody of their child and he was supposed to be bringing the child to meet with her to pick him up.... here's your sign
Our legal system in this country is way off. This woman clearly asked for help prior to this incident and didn't get it. And this is what it took to get this guy in jail, for her to recieve severe burns to her face and body. Very sad. If She should go after every person she asked for help who couldn't be bothered with her requests.
In CT that happened years ago. A lady seeked Protective Order and was denied. Ex-Husband stabbed her several times and stomped on her head. She ended up in a wheelchair raising her young child. Sued the town Police and won millions.
So what would the restraining order do? She went out and met him in a "neutral location" which would have meant she would have violated her own order. Anyone capable of this isn't going to worry about a restraining order.
Tina and Patty, I live 25 miles from where this took place, so it was all over local news. What does it take to get a protective order, which she had previously asked the Judge for and was turned down. What I read was that a couple months back she was arrested for domestic violence after her ex hit her and she hit back. The brilliant Police arrested her. I do not beleive they prosecuted her and it was dropped, but not sure. What she wrote in the request for a protective order was that he clearly indicated he wanted to hurt her and he was all about revenge. I just don't know WHY she could not get this protective order. That poor woman needed help when she was trying to block the ex from coming in. It seems she got very delayed help too!
I saw the movie that was made about her life in regards to this experience!
"Our legal system in this country is way off"
That's why they call it the "criminal" justice system.
I wonder if he feels like a REAL MAN now. I mean, any man who attacks a woman for any reason other than to defend himself is the biggest pussy on earth as far as I'm concerned.
I hope he gets life.
Better be a good boxer, or a good dancer, 'cause where he's going, those are the only choices.
Like to see her....bet she's hot.
These are three sides to every story. His side her side and the truth. One has to wonder what she did to deserve getting lit up like Johnny human torch.
Normally I agree with your logic. However, there can be nothing said or done to deserve that kind of torture.
So you actually think that a human being can do something that makes them deserve being set on fire? That is probably one of the more sick and diseased statements I have ever seen. Seek help.
You have got some serious problems Tiber. I really hope you are single and never enter into a relationship.
@Tiber - What is wrong with you? No one, no matter what they do, deserves to be set on fire.
I dunno, I think that guy should be set on fire. Eye for an eye and less tax dollars spent housing/feeding the animal.
Tiber,
I hope you made your statement purely for effect. If not, you had better not be in any kind of relationship: father, husband, brother, boyfriend, etc. If so, I feel sorry for your family. Your comment was totally ignorant. Abuse is NEVER a reason for a "joke."
Tiber - Moron!
hmmmm, interesting. I bet all you poster hatin on tiber for pondering thought that bin laden and hussein were underserveling killed too?
My 17 year old neighbor poisoned my German Shepard and cut her head off three years ago. Someone tell me he does not deserve to be set on fire. That was my best friend he beheaded. Oh and what about child molesters? No ? cant set them on fire either but they would be deserving of it. (the dog was docile as could be, she even loved the freak who killed her)---people mostly suck.
Sorry for your loss Tiber. That is horrific. Your dog should not have suffered like that. I do get the anger one would have when something like that happens.
Tiber, no one deserves that.... I hope that you don't have a wife or daughter because, heaven forbid they might "do something" someday to "deserve" being lit on fire by you.
burn his sorry ass.....
I think Judge Thomas Barkdull III, who denied her the restraining order, should pay for damages (namely, all of her medical bills stemming from this attack as well as money for the psychological damage) and be disbarred. There is no excuse for a judge to not "do the homework" on any case.
restraining orders do not protect anyone...ask any abused, dead woman's family
I agree with Sheila....although it actually should refer to anyone, not just women since men get harassed by psychotic women too. There are plenty of men and women who apply for restraining orders for their ex's and a lot of them don't abide by the order. I have a friend of the family who's ex-husband is still showing up in her neighborhood, calling her, leaving notes for her and telling her friends/family to let her know he wants to talk to her ....even 20 years after getting divorced. She keeps updating the restraining order, but the guy doesn't get it and all she can do is notify police any time the guy is around or causing problems.
Restraining orders DO help because, if the person comes near you then the police have the ability and right to arrest him before he does anything to harm you. Without a restraining order he has to do harm before he can be arrested. Get a clue people, these things exist for a reason.
I honestly believe that some humans have mutated into vicious, vile predators. They are no different than any other rabid animal and should be treated exactly the same way.
AGREED!!!
Most animals are predators, don't insult them.
@ thepunisher
You're right, and I do apologize to animals for the unkind comparison to this human POS. But I do think guy is some sort of vile mutant to even think of doing something this. And I do think he should be treated like he's rabid.
The judge who 'investigated and decided' her request for help after only one hour of 'thought' should have to visit her every day she's in the hospital or rehab center (weekends, too). Each visit should require the judge to reflect for at least an hour each time, at the hospital (although I wouldn't burden her with his presence while he's thinking). Each visit should be supervised by someone from the court--or perhaps he should just be required to wear a GPS anklet. Perhaps then he could understand the need for restraint orders and their enforcement.
And where is the child? Has anyone checked on his welfare?
Let me guess - this fine couple is going to cost the taxpayers a fortune.
this is one of the worst response that i have ever read on a news blog. i hope that nothing ever happens to you or that you never need help because the world is going to look at you and say that we can't give you any justice because it will cost the tax payers a fortune.
YOU ARE AN A$$
It's amazing how the legal system works in regards to these sorts of things.
Nothing happens and they say "hey the system worked!" Pat themselves on the back.
Something does happen and they say "Aw, we didn't realize he/she was that dangerous our bad, woops!" fire a few people and move on like nothing happened.
Why am I not surprised that Floridas judicial system failed yet another citizen!! Once again they go around power hungry instead of checking the back ground of a case.. big freaken surprise.. theres a reason ppl wud rather take matters into their own hands.. its the judicial system thats breaking the people down.. maybe they are the real evil
And yet she stayed. These two were probably going at each other for some time. Common practice if two parties assault each other they both get charged. Or should it be only the man gets charged? This incident sounds like it was a ling time coming. While it's easy to say "leave" when looking at it from the outside it's not so easy to do it when you';re living it I'd say.
Although she stayed through most of the beatings, she did eventually get her own apartment. But he kept harassing her.
Both should have been charged for battery if there was enough evidence. I know most of the states have laws stating that if there is sufficient physical evidence on both parties that violence had been dealt, both parties are arrested and charged. It's hard to say what marks were left on her if the guy hit her.
@ State of Awareness...A lot of times if the police cannot determine who started it, they will just say one of the parties has to leave the home (temporarily) instead of arresting anyone.
Which is very true, although a lot of times it doesn't matter who started it. If there is enough physical evidence to that type of situation to take someone away for battery, the police will take whomever has no injuries present on the basis that they inflicted damage to the other party. If no physical evidence is given, then yes, police will ask one of the parties to leave for the night to cool off if emotions are still running high. Although there are some cases where authorities do not do this and issue a warning that if they are called back out, they will take someone into custody.
She is lucky in one sense: most burn victims aren't given such a good prognosis.
Many years back we responded several times to an abusive relationship couple. Long before the days of the current DV laws where an arrest could be made without a complaining victim. We begged he to file a charge to get the guy out but she loved him and would not cooperate in any way.
Eventually he doused her with gas and set her on fire. Fortunately, she didn't survive because her life would have been a living hell. He unborn baby didn't survive either. At his trial they actually tried to say "it was an accident". Amazing that the jury actually thought about it as if everyone keeps gas in the kitchen.
Everyone else saw he was a POS yet she didn't. As far as I know he's still sitting in a cell 20 years later.
Death from burns usually comes either right away from inhaling the smoke or during the recovery. The fluid shifts in the first day or two can be deadly, after that infection and malnourishment can be a problem, the caloric intake required is insane. This guy isn't off the hook yet, she may or may not make it. If its over 40% burns over her body, she is less likely to make it.
22 deleted, leftrightcenter posting the alleged phone number of the judge referenced in #15. Don't encourage harassment. Folks can find numbers on other sites.
You're suspended for a day for violating #5 of the Code of Honor.
That'll teach you to outlaw Big Gulps.
So, she called 911 and said she was on fire--and the dispatcher asked if she needed the paramedics? Really? That was a question that needed to be asked?
Welcome to the internet, instantaneous access to everything. Crazy stuff like this has been happening all along. You just hear about it now.
the only people who should be set on fire are child/baby killers and pedophiles. why didnt anyone douse sandusky or every other child molester and killer on fire?
I could be wrong, but is it because it's illegal?