Joliet Woman Set On Fire Moved To Loyola, 1 Arrested

JOLIET, IL — A 40-year-old Joliet woman is now in the Will County Jail facing felony charges after she set a 34-year-old woman on fire early Wednesday morning, Joliet police said. The 34-year-old victim was airlifted from St. Joe's hospital to the Loyola University Medical Center after suffering severe burns to a large portion of her body.

As for Shanna Simpson, she was put in the Will County Jail on two charges of aggravated domestic battery and two counts of aggravated battery.

Joliet police cars and Joliet Fire Department engines rushed to the 200 block of Comstock Street around 3:25 a.m. after learning someone was set on fire inside the house.

Police spokesman Dwayne English said Simpson set fire to the 34-year-old woman using hand sanitizer and a lighter. "Further investigation revealed that after becoming upset with the victim, Simpson covered the victim with hand sanitizer and then used a lighter to ignite the hand sanitizer, causing both the victim and Simpson to catch fire upon their bodies," he said.

Simpson suffered burns to her arms and following her hospital stay at St. Joe's, she was booked into the Will County Jail late Thursday afternoon.

A resident of the 500 block of Ward Avenue, Simpson's bail was set at $500,000, jail logs show.

The victim remained at Loyola on Good Friday, Joliet police advised.