A 32-year-old Tennessee man faces multiple felony charges after allegedly dousing his mother with gasoline and setting her and their home ablaze when she tried to evict him. The incident occurred early Thursday in Washington County. The mother escaped with burns and called 911 from a neighbor's house.
Dustin Tayler Machen stands accused of attempted first-degree murder, attempted especially aggravated kidnapping, aggravated arson, aggravated burglary, and interference with a 911 call, according to the Washington County Sheriff's Office. The agency announced the charges after booking Machen, 32, into the Washington County Detention Center without bond. He is due in court on Friday. Authorities noted his prior domestic violence charges against his mother, Sheriff Keith Sexton said to WJHL, an ABC and CBS affiliate in the area. Early Thursday morning, deputies responded to a report of arson at a home on South Pickens Bridge Road in northeastern Tennessee. They found the house completely engulfed in flames. Sexton explained that the mother had been evicting her son, prompting him to leave and return with a container of gasoline. He poured it on her and the house, then set her on fire as she tried to flee, the sheriff said. Machen also destroyed her cellphone to block a 911 call. The victim made it to a neighbor's home and contacted emergency services. She suffered burns to her arms and was hospitalized, though the full extent of her injuries remains undisclosed. Deputies spotted Machen nearby in a field, watching the fire. A drone located his backpack containing personal items, aiding in his swift arrest.