Man Burns Woman Alive in Elevator, Caught on Film

[Ming the Merciless]

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/18/ny...-elevator.html

But in the beginning, it seemed routine: a man dressed as an exterminator, wearing gloves, with a protective mask perched atop his head and carrying a container on his back, takes the elevator to the fifth floor.

Sometime later, an older woman carrying groceries took the same ride to the fifth floor.

Two cameras recording from different positions, one inside the small tiled elevator and another in a hallway, show the doors open and the man with the container approach. The man, who appeared to be in his 40s, first sprays the woman in the face, then douses her methodically from head to toe with what a city official said was an accelerant as she turned and cowered, raising her hands, the grocery bags hanging from her wrists.

Having cornered the woman in the elevator, the man struggles to light a barbecue lighter. He then ignites a Molotov cocktail — a wine or Champagne bottle filled with accelerant with a rag stuffed in its neck. He retreats and comes back again, spraying more liquid on his victim. And suddenly the silent video goes white with a conflagration in the small space: the woman, on fire.

Investigators are poring over the footage, a disturbing silent film capturing what is perhaps a singular act of violence: a woman being burned alive.

The crime took place Saturday afternoon at 203 Underhill Avenue in Prospect Heights. Detectives and fire marshals were reviewing the footage and interviewing neighbors.

As of Saturday evening, there had been no arrests, but investigators were already following a major lead: the man appeared to have been burned on his face and hands. Investigators immediately began looking for him at local hospitals.

The Police Department released photographs of the suspect, taken from the video, late Saturday night.

Firefighters and the police arrived about 4 p.m. after callers to 911 reported fire and smoke in the building, unaware of what had happened in the elevator.

A resident of the fifth floor, John, 29, who would not give his last name, said he had heard screaming and saw smoke coming from the elevator. “I thought it was kids because the screaming was high-pitched,” he said. “I looked out the door and saw smoke coming out of the elevator.”

While officials did not release the woman’s name on Saturday night, neighbors said they believed she was Delores Gillespie, though they were unclear as to the exact spelling of her first name. Ms. Gillespie was a postal worker, one neighbor said.

Residents were evacuated from the building after the fire. Hours later, some, like Maria Daley, wept while sitting on a city bus that had been provided for the displaced tenants. “She was my friend,” Ms. Daley said. “I just spoke to her yesterday.”

Another neighbor, Heidi Matthews, 46, said Ms. Gillespie had given her a plant on Mother’s Day. “It’s hard to believe somebody would do that to her,” she said.

“We all loved her,” Ms. Matthews said. “She was a part of this neighborhood for years.”

Tim Stelloh contributed reporting.

[Valiant]

Some people need better means of expressing their displeasure of Pioli..

['Hamas' Jenkins]

There is no bigger misconception of the justice system than the belief that the insanity plea is A) used often and B) effective in getting people off.

It's neither.

[BIG_DADDY]

Originally Posted by jd1020

I never said the evidence would have to be on camera you dumb ****.

Originally Posted by jd1020

But neither OJ or Anthony had their murder caught on ****ing tape.

It would be nice if you could relect on what you said and quit resorting to the personal attacks.

[jd1020]

Originally Posted by BIG_DADDY

It would be nice if you could relect on what you said and quit resorting to the personal attacks.

It would be nice if you had a brain.

In OJ's and Anthony's case both were unable to be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. This guy has his murder on tape.

Now please tell me where you connect those 2 statements to "must be on tape."

[jd1020]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

There is no bigger misconception of the justice system than the belief that the insanity plea is A) used often and B) effective in getting people off.

It's neither.

Can you even plead insane in a premeditated murder case?

Even if you can its going to be near impossible to prove he was insane since he escaped by using the stairs. He clearly knew what he was doing.

[Imon Yourside]

The guy should be doused in kerosene and lit on fire, sub-human pos.

[corn fed chief]

Originally Posted by KILLER_CLOWN

The guy should be doused in kerosene and lit on fire, sub-human pos.

I'd pay good money for a front row seat to that roast!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using Tapatalk

[go bo]

Originally Posted by jd1020

Can you even plead insane in a premeditated murder case?

Even if you can its going to be near impossible to prove he was insane since he escaped by using the stairs. He clearly knew what he was doing.

absolutely...

and someone can know what they're doing and still be quite insane...

[go bo]

Originally Posted by KILLER_CLOWN

The guy should be doused in kerosene and lit on fire, sub-human pos.

while it would be highly illegal and possibly immoral to do that, the fire would undoubtedly make for a warm glow...

especially nice on a chilly night...

[jd1020]

Originally Posted by go bowe

absolutely...

and someone can know what they're doing and still be quite insane...

The legal definition of insanity is "the inability to distinguish right from wrong."

This guy escaped by using a secondary route. It's going to be near impossible to prove that he didn't know what he was doing was wrong.

[FAX]

Can an animal be insane? Because, this thing is not a human being. Not even close.

It makes you wonder if there should be a special kind of court for things of this nature. To give an animal like this a "trial" seems like a mockery of a legal system. You don't give a rabid dog a trial. Instead of being judged by peers, you could just have 12 people take turns cutting off one of his appendages until its time for lunch.

Oh ... and the insanity defense is successful in about 25% of the cases in which it's used. That's not a bad success rate when you consider the kinds of crimes involved.

FAX

[MMXcalibur]

I can't help but think of my own loved ones put in that horrific position and it pisses me off to no end. I know I should detach myself from such abhorrent behavior, but it's difficult. This is why I don't watch or listen to the news anymore.

Words cannot even began to describe how troubling this must be for the family/friends of that poor woman. The death chair is too good for this asshole. Rot in hell, you son of a bitch.

[FAX]

Originally Posted by jd1020

The legal definition of insanity is "the inability to distinguish right from wrong."

This guy escaped by using a secondary route. It's going to be near impossible to prove that he didn't know what he was doing was wrong.

That's actually only one of several possible tests, the "right or wrong" thing, I mean.

Besides, one can be lucid and still have a severe mental defect. There are several Planeteers, in fact, who demonstrate that ability.

FAX

[Titty Meat]

Originally Posted by teedubya

Since they just passed NDAA... they can actually just make this guy disappear. You spray someone in the face with flammable spray... and she dies? That's an act of terror. Send this guy to Gitmo.

Why not just use HAARP and have him get blown away in a wind storm?

[Baby Lee]

This right on the heels of that NYC lady who was crushed to death when the elevator malfunctioned and ascended rapidly while she was half in, half out, of the entrance.