NewsNational News

Actions

Woman sets roommate on fire over plate of meatballs, police say

Posted at 1:48 PM, Oct 24, 2014
and last updated 2014-10-24 13:54:14-04

CLEARWATER, Fla. — Police arrested a woman who they said drenched her roommate with nail polish remover and set him on fire — all because he’d tossed out her spaghetti and meatballs.

At about 2:30 a.m., according to Bay News 9, Melissa Dawn Sellers, 33, began arguing with Carlos Ortiz Jr., 42.

The two had been drinking, according to the report, and that is when Sellers poured nail polish remover over the upper body of Ortiz and ignited the fluid with a lighter or cigarette, police said.

Melissa Sellers PHOTO: Clearwater Police

When Ortiz got up, his face was “melting off,” said a friend who witnessed the incident. “His lips were burning.”

Sellers was angry because Ortiz had thrown out her meal, the friend said.

Ortiz was taken to the hospital, where he is in critical condition with burns to his face, chest and shoulders.

Sellers has been charged with aggravated battery.