DeLAND, Fla. – A woman who was critically injured and suffered severe burns to her face and arms when her car was intentionally set ablaze outside a home in DeLand in August has died, officials said Sunday.
DeLand officials said Tracy Adams, 39, was found by firefighters who were called to a fire last month on West Volusia Avenue near Woodland Boulevard.
Police said Adams ran into a house and her clothing was on fire. Her face was bleeding, her arms were burned and she said someone was trying to kill her, according to a police report.
Adams' daughter called 911 after her mother came running into the house on fire.
"She is on fire, her skin, she is missing skin," the girl said. "She was under attack."
Police said Adams' car was engulfed in flames, which also damaged the exterior of a nearby home before firefighters could extinguish it.
Adams was airlifted to Orlando Regional Medical Center and died on Sunday.
"We believe the fire was started on purpose," DeLand city spokesman Chris Graham said.
Graham said Adams was inside the vehicle when the fire started and the initial investigation shows an accelerant was poured on the vehicle to light the fire.
“This was a despicable act that was done ...,” Graham said. “It's inhumane that someone would do that to another person, and we want to make sure we get swift justice to the family and everyone involved.”
Adams told authorities the suspect's name, but it has not been released, according to the police report. On Monday after her death Graham said the department does have a suspect and the case is ongoing.
A family is now grieving for the 39-year-old mother of five.
Jazariah Heath, 17, described her mother as "caring, outgoing and loving." Heath said she had this message for her mother's killer.
"I just hope you come to your senses. At least turn yourself in," she said. "You have children yourself. You knew us. You knew how much our mother means to us. You knew that was the only person we had."
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