Virginia woman dies after being doused in gasoline and set on fire by family friend, police say

Savannah Adams, 28, is accused of murdering Tiffany Dunford at her home in Wythe County on Nov. 17, according to the sheriff's office. Footage captured from NBC affiliate WSLS showed the charred remains of Dunford's couch, where she sat as Adams allegedly poured the gasoline on her before setting her ablaze, according to the sheriff's office.

The couch was outside at the time of the inhalation and an unknown person called 911 when they saw the fire. According to the victim's family, Adams drove up to the house, got out of her car, and doused Dunford in gasoline before driving off, according to the sheriff's office.

“Upon arrival, deputies discovered the victim suffering from severe burns covering most of her body,” the sheriff’s office said in a weekend press release. “The victim was transported by helicopter to a specialized medical facility for treatment of her injuries.”

Adams reportedly knew Dunford through family and friends and was identified using her car that was spotted fleeing the scene, Law and Crime reported. The sheriff's office posted the suspects photo and vehicle on Facebook and were able to track her down. She was arrested on Monday on charges of second-degree murder and felonious assault. The second-degree murder charge was upgraded to first-degree murder after Dunford died from her injuries in the hospital.

“Anybody that knew Tiffany, she could light up a room, and whether she was in the right or wrong, I don’t care, I still loved her, but she didn’t deserve to be burned,” Dunford’s cousin, Nancy Reyna, told local Fox affiliate WFXR. “Tiffany is too nice of a person, and this is devastating to me and my family.”

Adams had many previous entanglements with the law and was actually out on bond for charges of misdemeanor destruction of property charge, the Bristol Herald Courier reported. She also had a trial date scheduled for Dec. 5 for a 2023 alleged assault on a woman with a metal pipe.

“Savannah was trying to kill me,” the victim reportedly recalled telling a witness in court documents, per the Herald Courier.

In that case, she was charged with trespassing and assault, the former of which she had been previously convicted of twice. Adams is currently being held without bond at the New River Valley Regional Jail.