POMONA, Calif. — Police are searching for a 51-year-old man they say burned a woman to death on Friday after he poured gasoline on her and set her ablaze.
Editor’s Note: Clarence Duwell Dear, 51, was identified by the Pomona Police Department as the suspect.
Police say in a statement that the woman, whose name was not released, ran about 1:40 p.m. from a home in the 1500 block of Cordova Street engulfed in flames. The woman collapsed on the scene as neighbors tried to help her.
Pomona woman dies after being doused w/ gasoline, set on fire; man sought: police https://t.co/Kv60TXsY9N pic.twitter.com/MaRORYhZoj
— KTLA (@KTLA) December 26, 2015
Police say that shortly afterward, the Los Angeles County Fire Department arrived at the scene and took her to a nearby hospital, where she died.
Police say that it appears the woman and the suspect got into a heated argument that led to a fight. Investigators say the man chased from the victim from their home and doused her with gasoline. Police say the man then started the fire, possibly with a lit cigarette.
Investigators say the man ran off. Anyone with information about the attack is asked to call the Pomona Police Department at 909-620-2085, Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or the police department’s dispatch office at (909) 622-1241.
Jack Phillips contributed to this report.
