Man Whose Wife Set Him Afire in ’92 Dies of Pneumonia

Paul Carter, the 64-year-old cancer patient whose caretaker wife set him on fire two years ago after he ate her chocolate Easter bunny, has died of pneumonia, authorities said Friday.

Carter’s death Thursday was unrelated to the burns he suffered in 1992, said the Orange County coroner’s office. He died at Western Medical Center-Santa Ana.

Carter had been in the care of doctors since April 16, 1992, the day his wife, June, set him afire.

Carter had a rare form of breast cancer that had spread to his lungs and bones and was inoperable. He was also partially paralyzed.

According to court records, his small, frail wife of 30 years had come home from a trip to the store to find that he had eaten the chocolate bunny.

Enraged, she poured rubbing alcohol on her husband and lit a match. Paul Carter sustained second- and third-degree burns over 20% of his body.

Originally charged with attempted murder, June Carter, then 69, pleaded guilty in July, 1992, to felony elder abuse and was sentenced to a year in jail and five years probation. Because of good behavior, she served nine months at the Central Women’s Jail.

Efforts to reach June Carter Friday were unsuccessful.

Authorities are assessing the possible criminal ramifications of Paul Carter’s death.

Santa Ana Police Lt. Bob Helton said that despite the coroner’s conclusions, “we’ll still run the case by the district attorney’s office.”

Deputy Dist. Atty. Rosanne Froeberg, who prosecuted the case, said she did not have enough information to decide whether June Carter should face further legal action. But Deputy Coroner William King said there was no reason to believe prosecutors could make a case against June Carter based on Thursday’s autopsy.

“He died as a result of (respiratory) obstruction, . . . a natural death not related to the burning,” King said. “I don’t think there is (a case).”