BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. – A 40-year-old man was arrested earlier this month after deputies with the Broward Sheriff’s Office said he attempted to light his girlfriend on fire while she was holding her child.
On May 1, deputies said they responded to a domestic disturbance at a home in Oakland Park around 10 p.m.
Recommended Videos
Upon arrival, authorities said they spoke with the victim who said she had been in a relationship with Mark Confessore for approximately five years and shares two children with him.
Deputies said the couple told them the initial argument started at the doctor’s office before they both arrived at the home, when an unidentified person made a “rude comment” that angered Confessore.
The victim told deputies that once they arrived home around 2:30 p.m. she and Confessore began arguing.
An arrest report states the victim made food for herself to eat when she said Confessore snatched her plate of food and roughly threw it on the ground stating, “You are not going to eat that s---.”
The victim said that she and Confessore exchanged words before she grabbed both of her kids and went into her oldest son’s room to de-escalate the situation, deputies said.
Moments later, the victim told deputies that Confessore came back into her room and was mad because she was speaking in Russian to her kids.
After Confessore and the victim threatened to split up with each other, he then grabbed the victim’s iPhone and smashed it on the ground, according to the report.
Authorities said Confessore then shoved the victim onto the bed and walked away while putting the child in his room.
Deputies said those actions were “done against the victim’s will with the intent to cause harm.”
The victim told authorities that she attempted to leave the home to protect her children and herself, but Confessore eventually calmed down and they returned inside and ate dinner together.
After dinner, the victim and the children were lying in her room on the bed speaking in Russian about what they were going to do about Confessore and the victim separating.
Deputies said the conversation angered Confessore who then entered the room, picked up the victim’s phone and threw it at her, striking her in the left side of the head.
The victim’s son then got in between the two to protect his mom which led Confessore to say, “You’re lucky you are not 18 or I would bash your face,” according to the report.
Shortly after the situation deescalated, the victim was breastfeeding in her room when Confessore saw the victim smiling.
After asking the victim, “What the f--- is so funny, the two continued to argue and Confessore said, “Do you want to see how I’ll light you on fire?”
Deputies said moments later, Confessore grabbed a container of lighter fluid and began to spray it on the victim who said the chemical landed on her lower body and her legs.
The victim then fled to rinse the lighter fluid off when deputies said Confessore attempted to pour more on her.
The victim also told deputies that Confessore had a small lighter in his hand and attempted to spark it when an unidentified person intervened and stopped him.
The unidentified person then placed himself in between the victim and Confessore when Confessore pulled out a gun and said, “You want to see what’s next?” according to his arrest report.
Shortly after Confessore attempted to load the gun, the unidentified person grabbed his hands and prevented him from loading it.
Deputies said after arriving at the home, they found Confessore standing in the front yard with a gun on the ground in front of him.
Investigators confirmed after searching Confessore, they located a small yellow lighter in his possession.
Authorities did not specify whether the child the victim was holding at the time of the incident was one of the children they share together.
Confessore is facing charges that include one count each of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, aggravated domestic assault with a deadly weapon, child abuse without great body harm and battery.
As of Monday, he is being held at the Broward Main Jail, where his bond has yet to be determined.