Orangeburg man charged in murder of woman who was set on fire
ORANGEBURG, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - An Orangeburg man has been charged with murder after setting a woman on fire, according to the Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office.
According to arrest warrants, the victim has been identified as 60-year-old Michele Gills.
Harry Wolfe, 60, was arrested on Sunday and is charged with murder and arson in the first degree according to the sheriff’s office.
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Arrest warrants state Wolfe ”set the victim Michelle Lynn Gills on fire with the intention of causing death.”
According to an incident report, on Feb. 8, deputies responded to a call about a woman possibly being burned by a man.
On scene, deputies say they found a home at Truman Circle completely burned, but no longer in flames.
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Fire officials told deputies a woman was found on the other side of the trailer park by EMS.
The incident report stated the woman spoke with deputies in the back of the ambulance and had several burn injuries on her body.
The woman told deputies she was on the chair in the living room when Wolfe entered the home saying he was “going to get her.”
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She told deputies Wolfe doused her with gasoline twice before lighting a match and setting her on fire, the incident report said.
After setting the woman on fire, Wolfe crashed into an Orangeburg Department of Public Safety Emergency Fire vehicle while fleeing from the scene. He sustained multiple injuries due to the collision, according to the report, and was taken to MUSC Orangeburg.
The incident report said after setting the woman on fire, Wolfe crashed into an Orangeburg Department of Public Safety Emergency Fire vehicle while fleeing from the scene, according to officials.
On Feb. 20, investigators were notified by MUSC-Charleston that Gills died from her injuries, according to arrest warrants.
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Wolfe suffered multiple injuries due to the collision, according to the report, and was taken to MUSC Orangeburg.
Wolfe told deputies while being treated at MUSC Orangeburg he was not trying to kill the woman and that he “F*** up.”
Arrest warrants state that the facts are known to the affiant via the victim’s statement and an audio- and video-recorded concession, post-Miranda, from Wolfe.
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