Her 59-year-old boyfriend, Roy Lane Brooks, has been charged with aggravated assault family violence.
Temple police answered a call at 4:20 p.m. Saturday from the residence in the 11000 block of Roselle Drive where they found Cheryl Teresa Payne severely burned.
“According to (the victim) and evidence on the scene, the suspect doused her with gasoline and then set her on fire,” said Sgt. Brad Hunt of the Temple Police Department.
“The suspect was not on the scene when officers first got there,” Hunt said. “But he came back and was arrested at that time and sent to the Bell County Jail.”
Ms. Payne was initially taken to Scott & White Memorial Hospital, but was transferred to Parkland. She is in critical condition in the Burn Intensive Care Unit with third-degree burns and internal injuries from the heat and smoke of the fire.
“We’re glad that the assault suspect was able to realize his error and come back and turn himself in right away, so she (the victim) doesn’t have to continue worrying, and her family doesn’t have to continue worrying,” Hunt said. “They can concentrate on her, which is the focus that we also have.
“We hope that she can come through,” Hunt said. “We’re definitely hoping for the best for her.”
jgrassi@temple-telegram.com
