A Fort Lauderdale man is sitting in a Broward jail cell after he was charged with attempted murder and arson for setting fire to his car with his ex-girlfriend still inside it, according to an arrest report.
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The incident took place late Friday afternoon, after Franklin Davis, 82, had spent part of the day with the victim, whose name was not released. According to the report, Davis and the victim had been in a relationship for 42 years and lived with each other, but had recently broken up.
The former couple spent some time together on Friday but were arguing as they pulled up to the 7-Eleven at 3100 NW Ninth Ave. in Oakland Park, according to the Broward Sheriff’s Office report.
“During the argument, Davis suddenly produced a plastic bottle containing gasoline and poured it across the vehicle’s dashboard and front seats,” the report states, citing the victim’s account. “Davis then used a red lighter to ignite the gasoline, causing the interior of the vehicle to erupt into flames while the victim remained seated in the rear driver’s side seat.”
The victim suffered third-degree burns to her leg and Davis suffered burns to his hands and face, according to the report. Both were taken to Broward Health Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale and, from there, to the burn unit at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami.
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According to the report, the entire incident was captured by a surveillance camera, and the video matched the victim’s description of the incident. Davis did not speak to police.
He is being held without bond at the Broward Main Jail. The charges against him include criminal attempt to solicit or conspire to commit a capital felony, but the basis of that charge is not clear in the arrest report.
The Broward Public Defender’s Office is asking to be removed from the case because it once represented the victim in an unrelated manner. Davis is next due in court on July 14.
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Rafael Olmeda can be reached at [email protected] or 954-356-4457.