Justice · Miami-Dade burn attackMiami-Dade arson attack: Man burned across at least 80% of his bodyAired October 26, 2026 at 4:55 AM UTCWritten October 26, 2026 at 5:02 AM UTCRead the write-upThis storyTranscript · LOADING0:07Nathaniel Devin Mathis suffered burns across at least eighty percent of his body.0:10Officials say the thirty-three-year old isn't expected to survive.0:14Deputies arrested Tanisha Shelton, forty-five, accusing her of setting him on fire0:19after an argument.0:19Whether Mathis survives is still unknown.0:22Responders found Mathis in the courtyard of the former Annie Coleman Housing0:25Development in Northwest Miami, Dade.0:27The site is near Northwest Sixty, Three Street and Northwest Twenty, Five Avenue.0:31He was taken to Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital.0:35Deputies and Miami Dade Fire Rescue responded around six Saturday evening, October0:39twenty fourth, two thousand and twenty-six.0:41They found Mathis unconscious and badly burned.0:44Investigators initially said his injuries were so severe that he couldn't speak.0:48Medical staff assessed second and third degree burns across at least eighty percent0:53of Mathis's body.0:54That assessment describes a combination of both burn degrees across most of his0:58body.0:58Officials described his condition Sunday as extremely critical.1:01The first condition assessment came late Saturday when investigators described him1:05as critical but stable.1:06At that point, authorities hadn't publicly identified either person.1:10Sunday's fuller details supplied both names and a much graver prognosis.1:14Saturday's description was critical but stable.1:17Sunday's was extremely critical, with officials saying Mathis wasn't expected to1:20survive.1:21A later description used the broader word critical and kept that same prognosis.1:25It gave no indication that he had improved.1:27Deputies say Shelton threatened Mathis several hours before the fire.1:31Witnesses told investigators the two had argued earlier that day.1:34During that dispute, Shelton allegedly threatened to leave and return with someone1:38to assault him.1:38She then left the area.1:40Deputies say Shelton returned hours later with a white bucket holding a plastic bag1:44of liquid accelerant.1:45She allegedly asked a witness for a lighter, resumed the argument, then poured the1:49liquid over Mathis, set him on fire, and ran.1:51Investigators haven't identified the liquid.1:54They also haven't explained the relationship between Shelton and Mathis or what1:57their argument concerned.1:58Deputies say a witness chased Shelton and sprayed her with pepper spray to try to2:02stop her leaving.2:03Witnesses described a brown dress and purple sneakers.2:06Deputies say they found Shelton nearby in matching clothing and arrested her without2:10incident.2:11She faces charges of attempted first, degree murder, and arson, causing great bodily2:16harm.2:16Deputies took Shelton to the Sheriff's Homicide Bureau, where she invoked her right2:20to a lawyer.2:21Exercising that right carries no implication of guilt.2:24The Miami Dade Sheriff's Office is investigating the case.2:27Shelton was booked early Sunday, October25 , at Turner Guilford Knight Correctional2:32Center.2:33The latest custody information placed her there.2:35The booking followed her arrest nearby after the alleged attempt to flee.2:39The bond information lists separate entries for the two charges.2:42The attempted murder charge carried a listed bond of ten thousand dollars.2:46The arson charges bond was still marked to be set.2:48The ten thousand dollar entry covers only the attempted murder charge, with the2:52arson bond still pending.2:53That figure doesn't tell us what Shelton would need to leave custody.2:57Her next court appearance and any later release decision haven't been announced.3:00Officials have given Mathis a grave prognosis, but his death hasn't been confirmed.3:05No later medical update has said whether he survived.Explore with HeyDexFollow via RSSThe shortThe short ↗
