MIAMI, FL — A Florida woman is facing attempted murder and arson charges after Miami-Dade authorities say she borrowed a lighter from a witness and then allegedly set a man on fire.
The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office said Tanisha Shelton was arrested after the Saturday attack on Nathanial Devon Mathis, 33. Deputies say the confrontation followed an earlier argument between the two, and investigators believe Shelton returned hours later prepared to carry out the assault.
Authorities said Mathis was left in critical condition with burns over most of his body. Police found him unconscious, and investigators said he is not expected to survive.
Deputies say the confrontation began hours before the fire
According to the arrest affidavit, Shelton and Mathis argued earlier in the day before the violent encounter. Investigators said Shelton allegedly threatened to leave, then said she would find someone to beat up the victim.
The sheriff’s office says she later came back after that initial dispute. When she returned, investigators say she was carrying a bucket that held a plastic bag filled with an accelerant.
That detail is central to the case because deputies believe the attack was not spontaneous. Instead, they say Shelton came back with the material needed to carry out the alleged burning.
Witness says Shelton asked for a lighter before the attack
Authorities said Shelton then borrowed a lighter from a witness before using the accelerant on Mathis. Investigators say she doused him and ignited him shortly afterward.
The witness account is one of the key pieces of evidence described by police. It is also part of what led deputies to identify Shelton as the suspect they were looking for after the attack.
Miami-Dade authorities said they later found a woman who matched a witness description and arrested her. The sheriff’s office has not publicly detailed any additional evidence beyond the witness statements and the allegations in the affidavit.
Victim suffered burns over at least eighty percent of his body
Police said Mathis suffered severe burns to at least 80% of his body. Deputies found him unconscious after the attack, and he was taken into critical condition.
Authorities have said he is not expected to survive. The extent of the injuries underscores the severity of the case and why prosecutors have charged it as attempted first-degree murder.
No further information about Mathis’s medical treatment or current location was included in the sheriff’s office account. Officials have not said whether anyone else was injured during the incident.
Charges include attempted first-degree murder and arson
Shelton is charged with attempted first-degree murder and arson, according to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office. Those charges reflect both the alleged intent behind the attack and the use of a flammable substance, investigators said.
As of the latest update, it was not immediately clear whether Shelton has entered a plea. Court records or a first court appearance were not described in the sheriff’s office summary.
Authorities said Shelton is being held without bond in Miami-Dade County jail. The jail status indicates she will remain in custody while the case moves forward.
What investigators have said so far about the arrest
The sheriff’s office said deputies arrested Shelton after locating a woman who matched a witness’s description. That identification appears to have been a major step in the investigation after the attack was reported.
Officials have not said where the arrest took place or how long after the assault Shelton was taken into custody. They also have not described any motive beyond the earlier argument and the alleged threats made before she returned.
For now, the case centers on a sequence investigators say started with a dispute, then escalated into a planned and deadly assault. The sheriff’s office continues to treat the matter as an attempted murder investigation alongside arson allegations.
