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Background: The home on South Pickens Bridge Road in Washington County, Tennessee, where the incident occurred (Google Maps). Inset: Dustin Machen (Washington County Sheriff”s Office).
A Tennessee man has been accused of a horrifying crime involving his mother, after allegedly setting her and her home ablaze in retaliation for being evicted. Authorities report that Dustin Tayler Machen, 32, faces multiple charges, including attempted first-degree murder and aggravated arson.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office revealed on Thursday that Machen has been charged with attempted especially aggravated kidnapping, aggravated burglary, and interference with a 911 call. Currently, Machen is held at the Washington County Detention Center without the option for bail.
The troubling incident unfolded early Thursday morning, prompting deputies to rush to a residence on South Pickens Bridge Road in Washington County, Tennessee, following an arson report. Sheriff Keith Sexton described the scene upon their arrival as a house “completely engulfed” in flames.
The report was made by the victim herself, who identified her son, Machen, as the perpetrator. Sheriff Sexton explained to local ABC and CBS affiliate WJHL that the victim was in the process of evicting her son when the incident occurred. “He left the residence, returned with a container of gasoline, and proceeded to pour it on both the victim and the house,” Sexton elaborated.
“She was in the process of evicting her son,” Sexton told area ABC and CBS affiliate WJHL. “At which time he left the residence, came back with a container of gasoline, proceeded to pour the gas on the victim and the house.”
The suspect allegedly set his mother on fire “as she attempted to leave the residence” and “destroyed” her cellphone “to prevent her from calling 911.” She managed, however, to make it out of the home and get to a neighbor’s house where she called 911.
The mother suffered burns to her arms and was brought to a local hospital. The extent of her injuries was not immediately available.
Machen was found nearby and arrested. “Deputies happened to see him,” Sexton said to the local outlet, adding that the suspect had previous charges relating to domestic violence against his mother. “We had deployed a drone, which located a backpack that had some of his personal items and other things in there, but he was out in the field … just watching the fire.”
The defendant was expected to appear in court on Friday.
Washington County, Tennessee, is located in the northeastern part of the state.