A horrifying incident in Florida has left a community in shock, as 66-year-old W. Clements faces serious charges after police say he attempted to kill his girlfriend by intentionally setting their shared home on fire while she was sleeping inside.
The attack, which took place on April 4, has left the victim with critical injuries, and Clements is now being held without bond at the county jail as he faces charges of attempted murder, arson, aggravated battery causing bodily harm, and false imprisonment.
The Terrifying Attempted Murder
The disturbing events unfolded in the early afternoon when Clements allegedly set fire to the home while his girlfriend, whose identity has not been publicly revealed, was taking a nap in her bedroom.
Firefighters later discovered two separate points of origin inside the house, indicating that the fire was deliberately set, not accidental. Authorities also found a red five-gallon gas can at the scene, further supporting the idea that Clements had intentionally started the blaze.
As the fire quickly spread, the woman woke up to the smell of gasoline and saw flames coming through the door. Trapped inside her room, she was left desperately trying to escape.
Sheriff’s deputies and firefighters arrived at the scene and acted quickly, smashing open the bedroom window to rescue her. She was found in critical condition and immediately airlifted to a hospital. Doctors reported that nearly 60% of her body was covered in burns.
Victim’s Suspicion and Prior Abuse
Despite the severity of her injuries, the victim managed to tell police that she suspected Clements had intentionally tried to kill her. She recalled a chilling remark he had made earlier in their relationship, saying he preferred to permanently disfigure women instead of killing them.
This brutal attack was not the first instance of violence Clements had inflicted upon his girlfriend. The couple had been in a relationship for nine months and living together for the past four months.
According to the victim, Clements had assaulted her multiple times during their relationship, with one incident in February 2024 standing out as particularly violent.
In this attack, she alleged that Clements zip-tied her, trapped her in her bedroom, and beat her severely, even knocking out her front tooth. Photos of her injuries were later found on her phone, corroborating her account of the abuse.
Clements’ Criminal History
This disturbing history of violence against his girlfriend comes on the heels of Clements’ own criminal past. Records show that Clements has a criminal history dating back to 1993, when he was convicted of kidnapping and indecent assault. At the time of the February assault, he was still on parole for those previous offenses.
Following the February assault, Clements was charged with aggravated battery causing bodily harm and false imprisonment. However, after the fire incident, he was slapped with additional charges on April 17, including attempted murder and arson.
Community Shock and the Case Moving Forward
Neighbors and friends of the victim were left horrified by the brutal attack, especially considering that Clements had given his girlfriend gifts just one day before the fire.
A friend of the victim told authorities that the situation felt surreal, as Clements’ actions seemed to contradict the gifts and apparent affection he showed the night before the attack.
For now, Clements remains in jail without bond as he faces multiple charges. His arraignment, which had been scheduled for May 13, has now been canceled, according to court records.
As the case moves forward, the victim continues to recover from the attack, and the community remains shaken by the calculated nature of this violent assault.