Southwest Missouri man jailed for allegedly setting wife on fire

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) -- A Springfield man was in jail Tuesday for allegedly dousing his wife with gasoline in bed and set her on fire.

Antonio Lamarr Draper, 26, is charged with felony first-degree domestic assault. He pleaded not guilty at an arraignment Monday and does not yet have a lawyer, according to court records. He was being held Tuesday in lieu of a $250,000 bond.

Draper's wife, 26-year-old Hannah Kendrick, was admitted to St. John's Hospital on Saturday with burns over 60 percent of her body.

Kendrick was listed in critical condition Monday. The hospital could not immediately provide an update on her condition Tuesday.

Court documents cited a history of domestic violence and Draper's 2001 guilty plea to felony drug possession as reasons for the high bond.

Draper allegedly left the home he shared with his wife as she pleaded for him to take her to the hospital.

Kendrick told police she and Draper had been arguing about his alcohol use for several weeks, according to a probable-cause statement filed in the case.

They had argued again Friday night, the statement says. Kendrick said Draper told her he would not stop drinking and that she should go out with some of her friends.

Kendrick told an investigator the argument continued when she returned some time after 1 a.m. Saturday.

Kendrick said Draper woke her again about 6:15 a.m. She said she rejected his sexual advances and told him their relationship was over.

He then allegedly pulled back the comforter covering her and poured gasoline over her. Kendrick said she did not see Draper ignite the gasoline but then realized she was on fire.

Kendrick told investigators that Draper refused to take her to the hospital. She ran next door after he left the house and asked a neighbor to call police.

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Information from: Springfield News-Leader, http://www.springfieldnews-leader.com