Police: Man tried to trap girlfriend in burning home

Summary

Police said a bipolar man who was off his medication and drinking heavily tried to trap his girlfriend inside their McMinnville home after setting it on fire Wednesday. Eventually police pulled her to safety, though she was critically injured.

Story Published: Jul 3, 2008 at 8:51 PM PST

Story Updated: Nov 20, 2008 at 9:39 PM PST

Police: Man tried to trap girlfriend in burning home

A picture of Krista Wiegel, inset, is shown next to the fire damaged manufactured home that police rescued her from Wednesday.

MCMINNVILLE, Ore. – Police said a bipolar man who was off his medication and drinking heavily tried to trap his girlfriend inside their McMinnville home after setting it on fire Wednesday.

Neighbors said 38-year-old Krista Wiegel was busy packing up in order to leave her boyfriend, Larry Barnard, when the incident occurred at their doublewide manufactured home.

Neighbor Mardee Weiand said Barnard poured gas all over and used matches to ignite it. He then escaped from the burning home through a front window; he was naked after apparently shedding his burning clothes.

When Weiand stopped to ask him if anyone else was inside, "he just kind of glanced at me and walked across the street to their other house he was working on, smoking a cigarette – like nothing," she said.

Neighbor Tad Bliss heard the woman's screams and tried in vain to rescue her.

"I just felt really bad when she screamed, 'I'm going to die in here,' " Weiand said.

Police officers eventually found the woman on her back in the kitchen and were able to rescue her through a back door.

"Her hair was all burned up," Weiand said. "Her clothing was burned off in some spots…"

Though she was expected to survive, she was in critical condition at last check at Legacy Emanuel Hospital in Portland.

Meanwhile, Barnard, 38, is facing arson and assault charges and was booked into the Yamhill County jail on $170,000 bail.

His mother told KATU News he was out of work, upset at the recent loss of his dog and threatening suicide. She believes her son did not mean to trap his girlfriend in the home with fire.