Homeless Woman Set On Fire In West Virginia Dies, Charges Upgraded

CHARLESTON, WV — A homeless woman set on fire last week as she slept on a porch has died and the homeless man accused of killing her faces more charges.

Rachele Jarrett, 44, was asleep on a porch in West Virginia last week when Carl T. Magee III, 34, allegedly doused her in gasoline and lit her on fire, multiple media outlets reported. Jarrett was taken to the burn unit of a local hospital where she died Friday.

On Saturday, Charleston police upgraded the charges against Magee to first-degree murder and arson. Magee was arraigned on those charges Saturday morning, and his bond has been revoked, WSAZ-TV reported. He is scheduled to be back in court Wednesday. It's unclear if he has an attorney. (For more information on this and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

Police say Magee is from California and has been at a local homeless shelter recently.

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