Homeless Man Burned In Fiery Attack Has Died
FT. LAUDERDALE (CBS4) – Charges against a Ft. Lauderdale man accused of setting a homeless man on fire will likely be upgraded now that the man has died.
Fifty eight year old John Gibbons, who is currently charged with attempted murder, is being held on $200 thousand bond in the death of William Stouffer.
Investigators said Gibbons attacked Stouffer on February 18th behind a Burger King in the 2900 block of W. Commercial Blvd. At some point during the fight Stouffer was soaked in an accelerant and set on fire.
"It's hard to imagine that anyone can do this to someone," said Stouffer's sister Kathy Gordon, "setting a person on fire. It is unbelievable and the cruelest act for a human being. Fifty percent of my brother's body had 3rd degree burns from his head to his knees."
Stouffer was being treated at the Ryder Trauma Center until his death on March 23rd.
Gordon credited the work of Fort Lauderdale Police and Chuck Morrow, a veteran detective from the department's fugitive unit, with Gibbon's capture.
Morrow spent more than three weeks on the case in a search that took police to Fort Lauderdale, Dave, North Lauderdale and Tamarac as well as Lauderhill.
"When we found him, he was wearing glasses, a visor, a hoodie sweatshirt," said Morrow. "He admitted he knew that he was wanted."
Stouffer will be buried Wednesday at Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens in Pompano Beach.
