Police: Woman critically injured after boyfriend sets her on fire

A Georgetown man faces an attempted murder charge April 20 after police say he critically injured a woman while trying to set her on fire.

Police were called at 2:52 a.m. to the 27000 block of Paradise Street south of Georgetown for a report of a woman in distress and found a woman, 44, suffering from severe burns across a large portion of her body, police said.

The woman was transported to an area hospital by emergency medical services, where she remains in critical condition. Due to the nature of the investigation, police said, Delaware State Police Troop 4 Criminal Investigations Unit and the Delaware State Fire Marshal’s Office are investigating.

Police said the woman and her boyfriend, 42-year-old Keith Morrison, were arguing in their bedroom, and afterward, Morrison threw an unknown liquid on the victim and set her on fire. Morrison then fled from the residence on foot in an unknown direction. Troopers located Morrison in a nearby field and took him into custody without incident. Morrison was taken to Troop 4 where he was charged with first-degree attempt to commit murder. He was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 3 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution in default of $1 million cash bond. Morrison was also charged by the Delaware State Fire Marshal’s Office with felony first-degree arson.