TALLAHASSEE, Fla.(WTXL) — The woman accused of setting fire to a Taco Bell employee last month, is now facing two additional felony charges for arson.
On Thursday, Chief Financial Officer and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis announced arson charges against Mia Williams after an alleged fire-related attempted murder at a Taco Bell restaurantin Tallahassee on the evening October 23.
CFO and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis said, “This alleged assault is incredibly disturbing and my deepest sympathies go out to the victim. I thank my dedicated arson detectives for their hard work in assisting the Tallahassee Police Department in this case. If you commit arson in Florida, you will be caught and you will be thrown in jail.”
An investigation revealed that Williams entered a Taco Bell on South Monroe Street with a small amount of gasoline in a blue water bottle.
Documents say Williams then walked behind the restaurant counter, located the victim near the food preparation and drive thru section and then threw the gasoline onto the victim and the surrounding area.
Evidence during the investigation revealed Williams used an open flame device, such as a cigarette lighter, to light the victim on fire.
Williams also threw more gasoline from the bottle onto the victim, resulting in the victim being engulfed in flames as well as other structures within the food preparation area.
The attack resulted in severe burns to the victim’s body and numerous separate fires at the front counter, drive thru section, and within the food preparation area of the business.
Williams is now being charged with arson of an occupied structure and arson resulting in injury. In addition to the initial chargesof attempted first degree murder, resisting arrest with violence and aggravated assault
Authorities say if convicted on all charges, Williams faces up to 45 years in prison.
