Susanne Tomlinson (R).Photo:Go Fund Me
Go Fund Me
An Illinois man has pleaded guilty to first-degree murder charges in connection with the burning death of an elderly woman last September, who died after the man poured gasoline on her and her house and set them on fire, according to authorities.
Michael E. Sloan Jr., 41, of Troy, Ill., admitted during a court hearing Monday that he was aware that 69-year-old Susanne Tomlinson was inside the house when he set it on fire, the Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office said in astatement.
He allegedly told responding officers he “intended to kill everyone,” according to the statement.
Sloan had also poured gasoline on Tomlinson’s daughter previously, authorities said.
The daughter, who was not named in the statement but identified herself as Sloan’s girlfriend Courtney Tomlinson in an interview withKSDK, telling the network that she had lost her “best friend” and had “watched her die.”
“I went to the gym that morning. He left as soon as I left, went [and] filled up the gas can, and then when I came home about noon, that’s when it all started,” Courtney told the outlet, saying she and Sloan got into an argument over money he owed her when he grabbed a gasoline can.
“He grabbed the gas can, opened up my bathroom door and threw it in my face,” she said. “I couldn’t see. I was rinsing out my eyes. I have chemical burns on my chest. He had the lighter lit, but he couldn’t throw it on me for some reason. I was doused in gasoline.”
“He threw gas on her face. She couldn’t see,” she said, “I yelled, ‘Are you okay?’ He pushed her. She fell on the floor.”
Michael E. Sloan Jr.Madison County State’s Attorney
Madison County State’s Attorney
A neighbor who saw Courtney running down the street called the police, according to authorities. When officers arrived, they saw Sloan holding a cigarette lighter above his head which he flicked, causing a “fireball,” the attorney’s office said in the statement.
Firefighters eventually rescued Sloan and took him into custody after he received treatment for his burn injuries, per the statement.
An autopsy determined the cause of Susanne’s death was smoke inhalation and burn injuries, the statement said.
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Susanne, referred to as “Sue” in aGoFundMepage set up for funeral expenses, loved fishing with her granddaughters and enjoyed gardening with a group of friends that called themselves “The Mermaids.”
“This is truly a tragedy it’s a nightmare you just can’t wake up from," the fundraiser’s description reads.
“He took my soul out of my chest,” Courtney told KSDK. “I will get justice no matter what.”
Sloan’s sentencing is set for Feb. 26, according to the attorney’s office.
If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go tothehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
source: people.com
