Man charged with setting girlfriend aflame

updated 8:35 a.m. ET July 30, 2006

HYATTSVILLE, Md. - A man was charged early Saturday with an attack on his girlfriend that left her with second- and third-degree burns on her upper body.

Anthony Willoughby, 40, of Hyattsville, was taken into custody at the home of a friend, less than two miles away from his home after he contacted police to arrange his surrender.

Willoughby was charged with attempted murder, assault and malicious burning in connection with injuries suffered by his 39-year-old girlfriend. Prince George's County police said the couple was at Willoughby's home early Saturday when they apparently had an argument.

Police said that around 2 a.m., the dispute escalated and the woman was burned.

"Once she was doused with the gasoline and set on fire, she ran from that location to her home," less than a half mile away, said Cpl. Clinton Copeland, a police spokesman. Police and emergency medical technicians responded to a 911 call placed from the woman's home. She was taken to Washington Hospital Center in the District of Columbia for treatment of her injuries.

Police first went to Willoughby's home before they were notified of his whereabouts.

"We were called to the friend's house," Copeland said.

The woman has not been identified because she is an alleged crime victim.

Willoughby was being held at the Prince George's County Detention Center.

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