Murray woman set on fire after argument hospitalized in life-threatening condition

Murray woman set on fire after argument hospitalized in life-threatening condition

(Murray Police Department)


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MURRAY — A woman who was set on fire and suffered burns over 70 percent of her body by a convicted killer remained hospitalized Friday in life-threatening condition.

"The victim was transported to the burn unit at the University of Utah Hospital where it is unknown whether she will survive the injuries," according to a police affidavit.

Andrew Todd Curtis, 44, of Moab, was arrested and booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of attempted aggravated murder.

Curtis also claims the woman is pregnant with his child, the affidavit states. Murray police said Friday that they had not independently confirmed that.

Curtis, who has spent much of the past 20 years in the Utah State Prison for two violent episodes, has had an abusive relationship with the woman since being released from prison in April, the affidavit states.

Just before 3 a.m. Thursday, officers were called to the Studio 6 Hotel, 975 E. 6600 South, where the 34-year-old woman was burned.

According to witnesses, Curtis and the woman had been arguing and at one point Curtis left the room. The woman "asked other persons in the room to not let him back out of fear," the affidavit states.

The woman went outside her room to the landing area. That's when witnesses say Curtis "ran up to the victim and threw a cup of clear liquid" onto her, according to the affidavit. "The cup was described as a soda cup used for fountain drinks at gas stations. They said that the suspect then spit on the victim and lit an object in his hand and set the victim on fire."

As emergency responders were performing life-saving measures on the woman, she stated that Curtis approached her and said, "You're going to burn (expletive)," and then sprayed her with the liquid, the affidavit says.

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The woman said he was also assaulted by Curtis the night before and had extensive bruising down the left side of her body, according to police. Witnesses also told officers that "the victim confided to them an extensive physically abusive relationship with Andrew," police wrote.

Curtis was found at a nearby convenience store about 11 a.m. Thursday and was arrested. Officers noted in the affidavit that he "had a bag in his possession that smelled of fuel."

Curtis has a violent criminal history. He was convicted of fatally stabbing a man in Moab in 2010. He was sentenced to up to five years in the Utah State Prison for that incident. That sentence came eight years after he was sentenced to prison on two counts of aggravated assault. Curtis was originally charged with two counts of attempted murder in that case for shooting two people in a restaurant parking lot, according to court records.

Curtis was released from prison in April and his sentence for the murder expired in June, the affidavit states.

Most recently, he traveled to Murray from Idaho Falls, according to police.

"During a phone call with a Murray City victim advocate, the victim's mother stated Todd recently tried to set his mom's house on fire," according to the affidavit.

An agent with Adult Probation and Parole told investigators that agents have been attempting to get the woman who was burned away from Curtis "multiple times knowing he was a danger to the victim," the affidavit states.

Anyone who is a victim of domestic violence or knows of a victim in Salt Lake City is encouraged to call police at 801-799-3000 and ask to speak with a victim advocate or call a 24-hour hotline at 801-580-7969.

The National Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-799-7233 or the Utah LINKLine at 1-800-897-5465 for confidential assistance.

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Pat Reavy is a longtime police and courts reporter. He joined the KSL.com team in 2021, after many years of reporting at the Deseret News and KSL NewsRadio before that.

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