Husband accused of burning wife in Madison
MADISON, Wis. — Dane County prosecutors say a Madison man poured gas on his wife and lit her on fire after accusing her of having an affair.
A criminal complaint says 59-year-old Andrew Spear hit Mary Spear, a state attorney, and drove her to their storage unit Aug. 16 where he set her on fire. The complaint says the fire briefly ignited her arms and legs before her husband helped put it out.
Mary Spear is the chief legal counsel for the state Department of Health Services. The State Journal says Andrew Spear appeared in Dane County Circuit Court Tuesday where bail was set at $500,000. He’s charged with attempted first-degree intentional homicide, false imprisonment, disorderly conduct and battery.
Defense attorney Brian Brophy says Andrew Spear disputes many of the allegations.