Woman & Child Set on Fire in Horrific Incident, Man Indicted

UPDATE: (11/09/21)

In an update to this case, KATC reports that a grand jury has now indicted Derwin Hamilton on two counts of First Degree Murder.

ORIGINAL: (7/26/21)

A woman, who State Fire Marshal's Office officials say was set on fire, has died because of her injuries. The woman died Sunday, July 25.

According to St. Mary Parish Sheriff's deputies, 49-year-old Derwin Hamilton admitted to them that he set his girlfriend and his great-nephew on fire after the woman told him she was leaving him. The 5-year-old boy, Joshua Hamilton, was pronounced dead at an area hospital. The woman was listed in critical condition, but State Fire Marshal's Office spokeswoman Ashley Rodrigue says that the woman died yesterday.

It was around 8 o'clock on Tuesday, July 13 that firefighters, who showed up to fight a fire, found the two victims. That is also when they encountered Hamilton who was standing outside of the mobile home with slight injuries.

As the woman was being taken away by emergency officials, she told deputies about the terrifying incident. She told them the two were arguing. The boyfriend was mad at her because she said she was leaving. She said that's when Hamilton threw a liquid on her and the boy and then set them on fire.

Hamilton was originally charged with one count of Attempted Second Degree Murder and Second Degree Murder, but now he will face two murder charges.

State Fire Marshal Butch Browning had this to say on the day their investigation began,