Man Wanted for Setting Woman on Fire in Grants
A horrifying incident unfolded in the early hours of October 7, 2023, when a woman was set on fire during a domestic dispute at the 1121 Mount Taylor apartments in Grants, New Mexico. The victim, who will not be identified by the Cibola Citizen, suffered severe burns and is currently undergoing treatment at a burn unit hospital in Phoenix, Arizona.
Grants Police Department has a nationwide warrant out for the arrest of suspect Dennis Bubel, who is alleged to have set the victim on fire. Lieutenant Joe Galindo with Grants Police Department said that GPD has had dealings with Bubel before, but had never found him to be a violent offender until now. “We don’t have any information that he may be armed or dangerous, but anyone facing the charges that Dennis Bubel is, may be capable of anything,” Galindo said.
Grants Police Department is urging caution and if anyone sees Bubel they are asking to call GPD’s detective division at 505287-2985, or Cibola County Regional Communications Center at 505-287-9476.
According to a police report of the alleged crime, the incident was reported around 4:02 a.m. when multiple 911 emergency calls came in, alerting authorities to a female who was ablaze on the second floor of the Vista Mesa Villa apartment complex. Law enforcement agents with the City of Grants Police Department were dispatched to the scene in response to these calls.
Upon arriving at the scene at approximately 4:06 a.m., law enforcement encountered the victim, who was in extreme distress and pain. She had suffered burns to her waistline, torso, upper chest, neck, arms, and face. The smell of gasoline, burned flesh, and burnt hair emanated from her injuries, according to the report.
Due to her condition, the victim struggled to provide a coherent statement about the incident. She eventually identified her attacker as Dennis Bubel. As she awaited medical assistance, the victim expressed concern about going into shock due to the excruciating pain she was experiencing.
Emergency Medical Services were dispatched to the scene, and the victim was ultimately transported to Cibola General Hospital by a friend in a green Chevrolet Tahoe.
Upon entering the apartment building, law enforcement detected a strong odor of gas and burnt hair. Evidence was collected by police at the scene.
A witness reported hearing a domestic disturbance and discovered the victim on fire. She, along with another bystander, tried to help extinguish the flames.
Another unidentified female informed law enforcement that the incident may have occurred in apartment #115 and suggested that those involved were acquainted with the victim. Allegedly, the victim had been spending time in apartment #115 with another male, which led to a confrontation between her and her what police believed to be her ex-boyfriend, Bubel. The witness told police they did not see the altercation but did see the victim on fire.
At approximately 4:21 a.m., law enforcement arrived at the hospital's emergency room to follow up on the case. They spoke with witnesses who had helped extinguish the flames and provided initial first aid.
The witnesses told police they were in their apartment when they overheard an argument between a man and a woman, followed by screams. They discovered the victim on fire and attempted to use a fire extinguisher to put out the flames. When they were unable to break the safety glass, they retrieved a chair and successfully accessed the extinguisher. They applied butter to the victim's burned skin in an attempt to provide relief.
Inside the emergency room, the victim described the events leading up to the attack. She stated that she and Dennis had been in apartment #211, preparing dinner when he doused her with gasoline from a plastic bottle and set her on fire.
Due to the severity of her injuries, the victim received pain medication, and the investigation into the incident was temporarily concluded. Hospital staff informed authorities that she would be transferred to a burn unit hospital in Phoenix, Arizona for specialized care.
Law enforcement has a nationwide no bond warrant for the arrest of Dennis Bubel, who is wanted on charges of attempted murder and aggravated battery in connection with this horrific incident. The search for the suspect continues as the victim fights to recover from her life-threatening injuries.