On Monday, the Duplin County Sheriff’s Office received a call for service in the Mount Olive area of Duplin County relating to a serious assault. The caller, a 47-year-old female, told dispatch her boyfriend, 64-year-old Raeford Bell, had doused her with rubbing alcohol and set her on fire. Owens had suffered severe burns over a large portion of her body.

Investigators responded and began processing the crime scene. Bell was arrested and placed in the Duplin County Jail and charged with Assault with a Deadly Weapon with Intent to Kill Inflicting Serious Injury. Bell was given a $1 million secured bond.

The Duplin County Sheriff’s Office reports this investigation is ongoing and additional charges are pending.