Burn victim dies from injuries: Suspects to be charged with first-degree murder
First-degree murder charges are forthcoming against three suspects in the wake of the death Saturday of Gina Thompson who succumbed to burn injuries sustained when she was set on fire last week.
Thompson died around noon Saturday following a week-long battle in the burn unit of Erlanger Medical Center in Chattanooga. She suffered burns over 80 percent of her body when she was doused in gasoline and set on fire while she slept in a trailer at Measels Terrace View Estates eight days earlier on Sept. 12.
Her alleged assailants, Ruben Pimentel, 32; Luiz Gomez, 19 and Franklin De La Cruz, 26, are being held under $500,000 bonds at Warren County Jail where they are presently charged with attempted first-degree murder and aggravated arsons. However, according to District Attorney General Dale Potter, those charges will soon change.
“We anticipate filing first-degree murder charges against all three suspects by the first of the week in light of Ms. Thompson’s death,” Potter said upon learning of the news of Thompson’s passing. “We will be seriously looking at asking for the death penalty in this case. That’s something we’ll probably announce after the case goes before the grand jury.”
Prior to Thompson’s death, the suspects, if convicted, would have faced a maximum of 50 years in prison. If prosecutors do seek death against the men, it will be the first time a death penalty case has been pursued here in over 15 years. It will also be the first multiple death penalty case in modern history in Warren County. All three suspects have entered not guilty pleas to their current charges.
According to investigators, two of the suspects, Gomez and De La Cruz, who are halfbrothers, only arrived in Warren County from New York seven hours before the incident. They were reportedly brought here by Pimentel, who had lived in neighboring Coffee County for a while. Pimentel had a short arrest history locally, charged in Warren County for possession of a handgun and in Coffee County for drunk driving.
During their investigation, lawmen learned the motive for the killing may have been the suspects’ anger over drugs they believed where taken or hidden by the victim. Lawmen believe the men entered the trailer and doused the victim with gasoline as she slept before setting her afire with a lighter. The victim then ran from the residence, still in flames, running over 300 yards before finding help at another trailer.
Pimentel, who is the only member of the trio who speaks English, declined an interview with the Southern Standard, saying he would only conduct an interview in the presence of his attorney. Although attorneys have been appointed to the suspects, Pimentel’s representation may be changed since one of the attorneys in the case had formerly represented him in another case.
According to Potter, an autopsy has been ordered on the victim, although prosecutors are sure the burn injuries were the root cause of her death. Arrangements for Ms. Thompson were incomplete at press-time Saturday.