MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – A man with the last name “Hope” might be running out of it after he was accused of dousing his niece with gasoline and then setting her on fire in the West Perrine area of southwest Miami-Dade.
According to an arrest report from the Miami-Dade Police Department, officers were dispatched to a home near the intersection of Southwest 160th Street and South Dixie Highway, in reference to a medical emergency after a female was found unconscious around 5:30 a.m. Wednesday.
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Detectives said a preliminary investigation revealed that upon police arrival, an officer observed burn wounds on the victim’s left arm.
Authorities said Miami-Dade Fire Rescue personnel responded to the scene and transported the victim to Jackson South Medical Hospital, where she was further treated.
The victim faintly repeated the word “gas” as authorities attempted to speak with her, according to the report.
The victim later told detectives that she and her uncle, who police identified as Robert John Hope, 69, were in a car on Homestead Avenue when the two got into an argument and she got out of the vehicle.
Detectives said the victim told them that after she exited the vehicle, Hope threatened her, saying that he was going to burn her if she did not get back in the car.
Police said after the victim refused, Hope doused her with gasoline and set her on fire.
Authorities said Hope later showed up at the hospital and was taken into custody.
The victim identified Hope as the suspect through a single photo that was shown to her by detectives.
Authorities said after reading Hope his Miranda rights, he chose to speak to police and admitted to the incident.
According to jail records, Hope faces a charge of attempted murder.
As of Thursday, he was being held without bond at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.