An Alva woman is alleging her husband poured gas over her and lit her on fire Sunday morning after he became angry she was dancing with another man at a party they attended.
A Lee County Sheriff’s Office report said the woman told police in Tampa of the incident after she was med-flighted there suffering from serious burns to her torso, face, arms and neck. Tampa police said the woman, Wilhelmina Pontoon, 41, awoke and reported the incident to them.
Deputies said today they had arrested the husband, Kizer James Pontoon, 42, shortly after 4:30 p.m. Monday on charges of arson causing great bodily harm and permanent disability, kidnapping inflicting bodily harm or terrorizing the victim, assault with intent to commit a felony and aggravated battery causing bodily harm.
Prior to his arrest, detectives met with Kizer Pontoon at the couple’s home in the Charleston Park neighborhood where he told them that the two had returned home to get his cigarettes and that as he went to light a cigarette his wife Wilhelmina Pontoon caught fire.
He gave officers a blanket he said he tried to extinguish the fire with as well as the shirt she was wearing.
In a statement to Tampa police, however, Wilhelmina Pontoon, 43, said that the couple had been at a party and he became angry she was dancing with another man.
She said when the couple left the party Kizer Pontoon grabbed her and dragged her by the hair, punched her in the back of the head and grabbed her by the throat.
At their home Wilhelmina Pontoon said she grabbed her cell phone to call police but was prevented by her husband who took the phone and smashed it.
She said he then took her into a back bedroom, told her “I’ll kill you,” and then punched her under her right breast.
Wilhelmina Pontoon told Tampa police that her husband then retrieved two knives and held both to her neck, removing one to place it to his own neck and saying he would kill her and then himself.
She said she made an attempt to flee to a neighbor’s home but was prevented by her husband.
The Alva woman told police her husband said “Oh, you think I am a joke” and then he ran outside and got a red gas can and poured gas over her when he came back inside.
He then took a lighter and lit her blouse. She told police she immediately became engulfed in flames. She said she extinguished the flames by rolling around in a blanket and comforter.
Police arrested Kiser Pontoon after they re-interviewed him Monday. He continued to say the incident was an accident, the police report said, additionally saying that the pair left the party as a happy couple and came home to build a bon fire.
He said he accidentally splashed gas on her when she startled him while he was holding a gas can and then ignited when he went to light up a cigarette.
Wilhelmina Pontoon told police that her husband also confronted family members after the fire was put out and advised them to tell emergency responders that the incident was an accident. Furthermore, she told police, he threatened to kill her if he was arrested and then also kill himself.
Kizer Pontoon remains in Lee County jail under no bond. A hearing is scheduled Friday at 8:30 a.m.