By ,
Published January 13, 2015
A Battle Creek, Mich., man covered his mother in gasoline before trying to kill her by setting fire to their house, police said.
Timothy Bouffard, 23, was arraigned Tuesday on charges of kidnapping, attempted murder and arson, and a magistrate ordered him jailed unless he posts a $250,000 bond. The charges carry a possible life sentence.
"It started everywhere," Battle Creek Fire Inspector Ralph Britton told the Battle Creek Enquirer on Tuesday. "He poured the first floor, the dining room, the living room and out the front door to the porch. It burned from the first floor to the ceiling right now. It was instant fire all at once."
But Bouffard's mother, Linda Bouffard, said her son was not to blame.
She told local news stations that her son has drinking and mental health problems. He told her that both of them were going to die, then soaked her and the house with gas, she said. Both escaped Monday night's blaze, which destroyed the uninsured home.
Police were called to the home earlier that day to after Linda Bouffard said her son had stolen Valium, morphine, coins and jewelry, the Enquirer reported.
Calhoun County District Court Magistrate Earl Brutsche set bond at $250,000 and ordered Timothy Bouffard to stay away from his mother, according to the Enquirer.
Click here for more on this story from the Battle Creek Enquirer.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
https://www.foxnews.com/story/man-charged-with-dousing-mom-in-gasoline-trying-to-burn-down-house