Man who set father on fire turns self in to face attempted murder, arson charges

A Florida man who allegedly set his father on fire has turned himself in to authorities to face charges of attempted murder and arson.

Homestead Police Detective Fernando Morales said 38-year-old Tabias Rollins was taken to a hospital after he turned himself in on Sunday.

Morales said Rollins was injured in the fire he set on Saturday after dousing his 64-year-old father in gasoline inside their home.

The men are said to have gotten into a domestic dispute.

According to police, Rollins’ father, who has not been named, remains hospitalized in critical condition.

Rollins faces four counts of attempted murder because four other people were inside the home when he lighted the fire.

He also faces one count of grand theft for allegedly stealing his mother’s car to flee the scene.

It was not clear on Monday whether Rollins has an attorney.

Police and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue responded to a house fire call at a home in Homestead, about 35 miles south of Miami, on Saturday morning, Local 10 reported.

‘During the argument, Rollins decided to douse his father with gasoline and light him on fire,’ Detective Morales said.

‘Fire [department] was able to get here on time, extinguish the fire and airlift the father to Kendall Regional Medical Center.’

It is not clear what the argument was about.

The victim’s daughter, Canitra Rollins, said that she saw the fire and that her mother was home during the incident, CBS4 reported.

‘My mom was beside him and my dad was wide awake,’ Canitra Rollins said.

Fire crew are pictured at the scene. The flames rapidly engulfed the home, causing substantial damage

‘My dad dared him he won’t pour the gas. He poured the gasoline on him and tried to light him on fire.’

The flames rapidly engulfed the home, causing substantial damage. Police have said the house is a total loss.

When police arrived at the scene, Rollins had already fled in a white 2000 Cadillac DeVille with a black top.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue airlifted his father to a local hospital and he reportedly suffered burns to most of his body.

One of the family’s neighbors, who spoke on the condition of remaining anonymous, described the victim as ‘very kind’ and said he was always helping others.

The woman also told CBS4 that Rollins had previously caused problems and that neighbors, including herself, had called the police on him in the past.

Morales confirmed that Rollins had a ‘past history’ with the police department.

The Red Cross said it was providing assistance to the displaced family.

Source: The DailyMail