Mississippi Woman Sentenced to 20 Years for Setting Ex-Boyfriend on Fire and Trying to Stage the Attack as a Fireplace Accident
MADISON COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI — A 51-year-old woman has been sentenced to the maximum 20 years in prison after prosecutors say she set her ex-boyfriend on fire, changed his clothes, and then attempted to convince investigators it was a fireplace accident involving a bottle of lighter fluid.
The woman, Kalena Stubbs, pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and will serve her full sentence with no eligibility for early release, authorities announced Wednesday.
Prosecutors: She Changed His Clothes Before Calling 911
The incident occurred on Jan. 16 when Stubbs called police, claiming her ex-boyfriend had “fallen into the fireplace holding a bottle of lighter fluid.”
But when deputies arrived, they immediately noticed glaring inconsistencies.
According to a press release from Madison County District Attorney Bubba Bramlett, officers found the victim:
- Severely burned across his torso, upper arms, and face
- Wearing clothes that were not burned, indicating he had been changed
- Lying near an open bottle of lighter fluid that “did not appear to have come into contact with flame”
Stubbs eventually admitted she changed his clothes before calling 911 — raising even more suspicion.
“The injuries this victim suffered were horrific and some of the most severe we have seen,”
— District Attorney Bubba Bramlett
The victim was airlifted to a hospital and spent months in out-of-state burn units and rehabilitation centers.
Victim Later Revealed the Truth: She Set Him on Fire During an Argument
It wasn’t until the victim regained the ability to speak that the full truth was revealed.
According to prosecutors, he told investigators that Stubbs:
- Doused him in lighter fluid
- Set him on fire during an argument
- Watched as he suffered life-threatening burns
This account matched the burn patterns on his body — proof that the attack was intentional, not accidental.
“This will affect him for the rest of his life. We hope the sentence gives him some sense that justice has been done.”
— Madison County DA Bubba Bramlett
Judge Orders Stubbs to Serve All 20 Years
Stubbs has been remanded to the Mississippi Department of Corrections and must serve the entire 20-year sentence without the possibility of early release.
Prosecutors say the victim, who survived, will be left with permanent injuries and lifelong medical needs due to the third-degree burns covering his upper body.
Authorities emphasized that the violent attack was one of the most severe burn cases the county had ever handled.
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