Antioch Township woman accused of setting boyfriend on fire

An Antioch Township woman is charged with attempted murder after authorities said she kicked her boyfriend down a flight of stairs, then set him on fire with gasoline and a disposable lighter.

Deborah C. Roberts, 34, and Chad Malinowski, 43, were in an argument on the front porch of the house they share on the 25000 block of Golfview Avenue at 7:27 p.m. Sunday when Roberts kicked Malinowski hard in the right hip, authorities said. He tumbled down a five-foot flight of stairs and shattered his heel, said Cynthia Vargas, Lake County state's attorney's office spokeswoman.

Roberts told police she kicked Malinowski after he spit on her, Vargas said. Both had been drinking before the fight, Vargas said.

Roberts chased Malinowski down the stairs and grabbed a red plastic gasoline can and repeatedly bludgeoned him with it, Vargas said.

"(Roberts) said gas was everywhere from hitting him with the can," Vargas said. "She then told the victim, 'I'm gonna kill you.'"

Vargas said Roberts told police she began flicking the top of a disposable lighter and gasoline that was spilled on Malinowski ignited. Vargas said a witness heard Roberts say "I hope you burn" as she flicked the lighter.

Roberts told authorities Malinowski stumbled to the middle of the yard where she grabbed a hose and doused him with water, Vargas said. But a Lake County sheriff's office news release said the victim put out the flames with a hose while Roberts continued to pour gas on him.

Malinowski was taken to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville with third-degree burns over 45 percent of his body and a shattered heel. He has been transferred to the burn unit at Columbia St. Mary's Hospital in Milwaukee where he is in critical condition, authorities said.

In addition to the attempted murder charge, Roberts faces felony charges of aggravated battery with a flammable substance and aggravated domestic battery. If found guilty of the most serious charge, she can be sentenced up to 30 years in prison.

The attack remains under investigation, officials said.

Roberts is held in Lake County jail on $250,000 bail. She is due back in court June 10.