A man used rubbing alcohol to set fire to a trailer and two victims in the 1600 block of North Willis Drive in Bloomington on Sunday night.
John Mark Lawrence Jr. struck the 44-year-old victim in the face and began yelling at her and her 22-year-old son, the victims reported to police.
He then began throwing rubbing alcohol on the victims and throughout the trailer. He used a blowtorch to set the trailer on fire and also attempted to set the victims on fire.
The victims were able to escape the burning trailer through a rear window with minor injuries.
The Bloomington police and fire departments responded at 12:49 a.m. August 8 while the trailer was still on fire, according to a BPD press release. Officers searched the area and found Lawrence hiding in a drainage culvert a block away from the trailer.
He was at first uncooperative but later admitted to attacking and threatening the victims, according to the release. He told police he felt threatened by the victims.
He was arrested and charged with attempted murder, a level 1 felony; arson, a level 3 felony; and battery, a class A misdemeanor, according to the release.
Suzanne Grossman
