Man Set Afire for Eating Easter Candy

An elderly woman was arrested early Friday after she allegedly doused her cancer-stricken husband with rubbing alcohol and set him on fire for eating a chocolate Easter bunny she had saved for herself, police said.

June E. Carter, 71, who went on a two-hour shopping trip after the alleged attack and did not call paramedics for more than eight hours, was booked into Orange County Jail on a charge of attempted murder. Bail was set at $250,000.

“She decided to punish him because he had eaten her chocolate Easter bunny,” said Maureen Haacker, a Santa Ana police spokeswoman. “She apparently doused him with rubbing alcohol, lit a match and threw it at him. She told officers that she then left for the store because she was still very angry.”

Her spouse of more than 30 years, Paul Franklin Carter, 62, was taken to the burn unit at UC Irvine Medical Center in Orange, where he was listed in serious condition with second- and third-degree burns covering 20% of his body. Most of the burns are on his arm, chest and abdomen, hospital officials said.

Paul Carter, who is partially paralyzed and uses a wheelchair, is dying of cancer, police said. He had been under the care of his wife.

The incident began about 5 p.m. Thursday in the couple’s apartment. Police said Carter called the Fire Department about 1:30 a.m. after her husband told her he could no longer stand the pain. Paramedics arrived and summoned police.

“My aunt is 71 and caring for a man who has cancer,” said Cheryl Jefferson of Irvine, the Carters’ niece. “It is difficult. I’m sure if she thinks back on it, she would not have done it. She’s never been arrested a day in her life and to have something like this happen is like a family tragedy.”

Based on interviews with Carter, police said the alleged attack might have been the result of a longstanding disagreement and the emotions of having to deal with her husband’s lengthy illness. Haacker said police have not had any previous reports of trouble at the Carter home.

“It’s bizarre. I don’t think we’ve ever had something quite like this,” Haacker said. “Domestic violence happens, and the motive usually starts with something petty. Family problems can go unnoticed until they reach a boiling point like this.”

According to police, the Carters apparently have quarreled repeatedly over his habit of eating sweets and snacks that his spouse intended for herself.

“Maybe he had been ill for a very long time and things just emotionally caught up with her,” Police Lt. Robert Helton said. “Something as insignificant as eating a chocolate Easter bunny could have been the catalyst that set her off.”

Officers described Carter as calm during questioning and her arrest, almost “like she’s saying, ‘Enough is enough,’ ” Helton said.