A woman from Mississippi has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after she set her former boyfriend on fire, resulting in severe third-degree burns that left him incapacitated.

Kalena Stubbs, aged 51, admitted guilt to a charge of aggravated assault against her ex-partner, as confirmed by Madison County District Attorney John K. “Bubba” Bramlett in a news release dated December 3.

During a session at the Madison County Circuit Court, Stubbs received a 20-year prison term, which is the maximum penalty permissible for aggravated assault in the state of Mississippi.

“The victim suffered injuries that were extremely severe, among the worst we have encountered,” remarked District Attorney Bramlett in a public statement.

Details from the release indicate that on January 16, law enforcement responded to a 911 emergency call requesting assistance for a burn victim. Upon arrival at the victim’s residence, officers discovered that he had sustained extensive burns covering his torso, upper arms, and face, yet his clothing remained intact.

When investigators questioned Stubbs, she said she’d changed her boyfriend’s clothes before calling 911—and claimed he’d “fallen into the fireplace holding a bottle of lighter fluid,” per the district attorney. However, police said the open bottle of lighter fluid in the room didn’t look to have made contact with an open flame.

The victim’s injuries were so severe that prevented him from being able to talk and therefore clarify what had happened, Bramlett said. He spent months recovering in multiple burn units and care facilities before he was able to tell his story.

“When he finally regained his ability to speak, he indicated that Stubbs had doused him with lighter fluid and set him on fire while they were arguing,” the DA’s release shared, noting that this story was consistent with the burn patterns he’d suffered from.

Stubbs was ultimately arrested on July 22 and booked for attempted murder and aggravated assault, per Madison County Detention Center records.

“I know that his injuries will affect him for the rest of his life, and we hope that this sentence gives him some sense that justice has been done,” Bramlett shared.