Man set girlfriend on fire in fight over cheating, South Daytona cops say

Police say man tossed rubbing alcohol on girlfriend, lit her on fire

SOUTH DAYTONA, Fla. – A South Daytona Beach man is behind bars in lieu of $42,500 bail, accused of setting his girlfriend on fire early Tuesday.

"It's shocking," said Jessica Jackson, a neighbor.

Jackson said she woke up startled around 2 a.m.

"She banged on the door and asked us to watch her kids," she said.

Jackson said she couldn't believe what happened to her good friend, 24-year-old Tanisha Carter. Jackson posed a picture to Facebook showing Carter in the hospital.

"She was burned to the white meat," Jackson said.

South Daytona Beach Police said Carter's boyfriend, 29-year-old Jerod Redding, threw rubbing alcohol on Carter, then set her on fire, while Carter's four children were inside the home.

However, Redding told police that their lit cigarettes are to blame. Once officers arrived, they said Redding refused to comply and tried fighting them. He finally caved once police threatened to use a stun gun on him.

Redding faced a judge in court Tuesday afternoon with tears streaming down his face. He's charged with aggravated battery, battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest.

Carter is in the hospital with burns to her arm, shoulder, neck and chest. Her children are with their grandmother.