An Alabama woman's loved ones claim she is struggling to survive after her husband allegedly tried to kill her. Riley Willis III reportedly doused his wife, Anna Willis, with a flammable liquid on August 8 and set her on fire inside their Decatur apartment. The husband then allegedly fled, leaving his wife's body ablaze.
Today, Anna Willis' family is asking for prayers and donations to aid in her recovery. They also hope that her story will serve as inspiration to victims of domestic violence and give them the courage to leave.
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The attack happened in the middle of the night.
Decatur police released a statement on Facebook regarding the incident. Police said they were called to the Summer Courtyard Apartments on Acadia Drive SW at 3:30 a.m. after a report of a burn victim. During their investigation, police learned Riley Willis III allegedly set the fire and left.
"Patrol officers quickly located Riley hiding inside another apartment within the apartment complex. Detectives with the Decatur Police Department's Criminal Investigation Division were contacted and responded to the scene to begin an investigation," the release reads. "During the course of the investigation, it was determined Riley used an accelerant to set his wife and their apartment on fire before he fled the scene though a back window to avoid being seen."
Her son may have saved his mother's life.
Anna Willis' sister, Christy Mitchell, told WVTM that her sister ran out of the apartment screaming for help as flames ravaged her body. Anna Willis' son, Cameron Fernandez, 21, reportedly ran to his mother when he heard her cries and beat out the fire with his shirt.
"Anna ran out of the house, starting screaming for help outside of her apartment complex," Mitchell said, according to the news outlet. "Her son happened to be two doors down at his friend's house, ripped his shirt off and started desperately trying to put the fire out."
She was taken to a hospital in Birmingham and placed in a medically induced coma.
The fire was allegedly an act of domestic violence.
Mitchell created a GoFundMe page for her sister and explained she suffered third-degree burns to more than 50% of her body. She was initially placed in a medically induced coma but is now heavily sedated. Her family said she has a long fight ahead.
"This was an act of domestic violence of the most horrific nature. We must stand with her and lift her up through prayer and financial support. Anna has a long road to recovery and is not out of the woods," the page reads.
Some say Riley Willis III is right where he should be.
Anna Willis' daughter, Courtney Kennedy, told WVTM the alleged abuser deserves to be in jail.
"He tried to kill my mom," Kennedy said. "He attempted murder on her and justice is him behind bars and never seeing the light of day again."
Mitchell told the news outlet she hopes her sister's story will inspire others experiencing domestic violence. "Leave because no one knows when it's going to be the final straw," she said.
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Riley Willis III is in jail with the help of a newly enacted Alabama law.
According to police, he was charged with domestic violence in the first degree – assault in the first degree, and arson in the first degree, both Class A felonies. He is being held in Morgan County Jail without bond, per Aniah's Law.
Aniah's Law was passed in November 2022 and is meant to keep violent offenders in jail on no bond. The law was named for Aniah Blanchard, who was murdered in 2019. A man out on bail after being charged with a violent felony was charged in her death.
If you or someone you know has been the victim of domestic abuse, you can find help and support at DVIS.org, the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or by contacting your local women's shelter (domesticshelters.org).
