By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2024-11-20 22:38:26 | Updated at 2024-11-24 00:00:08
3 days ago
A Virginia woman has been arrested after allegedly dousing her friend in gasoline and setting her on fire while she relaxed on a couch.
Savannah Adams, 28, is accused of killing Tiffany Dunford, of Wythe County on Sunday, in the horrific incident, according to police.
Dunford, a mother-of-two, was sitting on an outdoor couch at her home in Max Meadows when Adams - a family friend - allegedly drove up, covered the woman in gasoline, set her ablaze and drove off, police said.
When the Wythe County Sheriff's Office arrived at the scene, they discovered Dunford 'suffering from severe burns covering most of her body.'
She was airlifted to a nearby hospital where she died from her injuries the following day.
It is unclear exactly why Adams murdered Dunford in such a heinous manner, but a couple people close to Dunford posted about Adams allegedly hacking one of her family members on Facebook.
The sheriff's office reached out to the public for help finding Adams, along with an image of the silver 2004 Dodge Neon she fled the scene in.
The department also shared an old mugshot of Adams, as she was arrested multiple times in the past, according to court records reviewed by WDBJ.
Savannah Adams, 28, (pictured) was arrested on Monday after she allegedly doused her friend, Tiffany Dunford, in gasoline and lit her on fire while the mother-of-two sat on a couch outside of her home on Sunday
Dunford (pictured) suffered 'severe burns covering most of her body' and was airlifted to a nearby hospital, where she died the next day
She was taken into custody on Monday and has been charged with attempted first-degree murder and felonious assault.
It is unclear exactly why Adams murdered Dunford in such a heinous manner, but a couple people close to Dunford posted about Adams allegedly hacking one of her family members on Facebook.
A charred couch and other burnt items were found at the crime scene.
Dunford's loved ones shared their unimaginable grief following her tragic death.
Nancy Reyna, the victim's cousin, told WFXR Dunford 'could light up a room' and that she 'didn't deserve' to be burned to death.
'Anybody that knew Tiffany, she could light up a room, and whether she was in the right or wrong, I don’t care, I still loved her, but she didn’t deserve to be burned.
'Tiffany is too nice of a person, and this is devastating to me and my family,' Reyna added.
A charred couch and other burnt items were found at the crime scene. It is unclear exactly why Adams murdered Dunford in such a heinous manner
Reyna noted that her late cousin loved the outdoors and animals, and was someone who would always help others.
'She meant like a sister to me. Everybody always said me and my cousin looked alike, and I know the Lord’s looking over her now and she’s not suffering in pain,' she said.
Another friend took to Facebook and said: 'I miss you so much tiff.. words will never be able to explain how much you meant to so many people. You touched many souls, you made an impact on people that will forever be cherished.'
'Every single time I saw you, you were smiling. You always knew how to make my Caramel Macchiato just perfect! And you were always happy to do it!,' wrote another loved one.
This is not Adams' first run-in with the law as she has been hit with minor traffic charges, trespassing and a recent assault charge, records showed.
The sheriff's office reached out to the public for help finding Adams, along with an image of the silver 2004 Dodge Neon (pictured) she used to flee the scene
Nancy Reyna, the victim's cousin, said Dunford 'could light up a room' and that she 'didn't deserve' to be burned to death
She was released on bond for allegedly assaulting a person with a metal pipe in 2023, Law & Crime reported.
'Savannah was trying to kill me,' the victim reportedly said of Adams, according to court documents, reviewed by the Bristol Herald Courier.
The repeat offender is currently being held without bond at New River Valley Regional Jail, according to the Wythe County Sheriff's Office.
If found guilty of the class two felonies, Adams could be locked up for 20 years to life in prison, and face a $100,000 fine.
She is due in court on January 31.
DailyMail.com contacted the Wythe County Sheriff's Office.
