Milwaukee fire, woman says ex-boyfriend tried to burn her
Woman says ex tried to set her on fire
A Milwaukee woman said she's worried about her safety after her ex-boyfriend set fire to her apartment when he tried to burn her bed – with her in it.
MILWAUKEE - A Milwaukee woman said she's worried about her safety after her ex-boyfriend tried to set her on fire on Saturday, April 5.
Police said they arrested the suspect on Tuesday. Meanwhile, advocates with Sojourner Family Peace Center said cases of lethal domestic violence are high right now.
FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android
What they're saying:
FOX6 News agreed not to use the victim's name or show her on camera. She said she was in bed when her ex-boyfriend lit her sheets on fire and ran away. She felt the heat on her feet instantly and ran out through black clouds of smoke.
The victim told FOX6 that one of the hurtful things in this situation is that her ex-boyfriend left her with absolutely nothing. Charred clothes now lie beneath broken glass, debris and scorched wood.
Fire scene in Milwaukee
"We’ve had a continued high rate of lethal violence in the city of Milwaukee. That has not changed," said Sojourner's President and CEO Carmen Pitre.
Pitre said domestic violence has consistently gotten worse since 2019. She counted roughly 34 Milwaukee deaths related to domestic violence in 2024.
SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News
"We’ve had this uninterrupted cycle of generational violence that gets normalized from generation to generation," she said.
Pitre said there are sometimes warning signs in domestic violence cases. Other times, though, homicide or attempted homicide is the first instance of violence.
Featured
Milwaukee 'suspicious' fatal fire; neighbors react, police seek suspect
A 71-year-old is dead after an apartment fire broke out in Milwaukee on Tuesday, April 8.
What you can do:
If you or anyone you know is going through domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE. The city of Milwaukee also lists a number of resources on its website.
"What’s my process of preparing for exiting if that’s what my choice is? If I choose not to leave, well what can I do to take care of myself?" Pitre said.
The Source: Information in this report is from FOX6 News interviews, as well as the Milwaukee police and fire departments.