CARROLLTON, Mo. (AP) — A central Missouri man has been found guilty of setting his wife on fire and burning down their house.
KMIZ-TV reports Willard Hunt, of Higbee, was convicted Tuesday night of arson, assault and armed criminal action. The trial was held in Carroll County, where it was moved from Randolph County because of extensive coverage of the June 2013 fire.
Witnesses in the one-day trial included Hunt’s wife, who testified her husband woke her up on June 17, 2013, and asked her, “Are you ready?” before dousing her in gasoline. She said he then ignited the gasoline with a cigarette lighter.
The wife was severely burned over 40 percent of her body. Hunt was apprehended two days later in rural Randolph County, where he’ll be sentenced on Dec. 10.