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Man Charged With Killing Woman In NE Mpls. Fire

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A man has been charged with murder after setting his girlfriend on fire, according to the Hennpin County Attorney's Office.

Vanessa Danielson, 36, died after being severely burned when police say her house was intentionally set on fire. They believe it was part of a domestic violence situation.

The Hennepin County Attorney's Office says 32-year-old Wyndale Fayson is in custody. His first court appearance has not yet been scheduled as he remains in the hospital with serious burns.

Court documents show Fayson was charged with felony domestic assault in July and given a no-contact order for Danielson.

Court records show Fayson violated that no contact order on Thursday.

Police were first called to the home on the 2900 block of Taylor Street around 2:45 a.m. Danielson said that Fayson came to her home and got angry, smashed her cell phone and threatened to kill her by setting the place on fire. He had left when police first arrived.

A neighbor said that he heard screaming at 3 a.m., "He's going to kill me, he has a gun!" That neighbor called 911.

Ultimately, when police arrived once again that morning, the apartment was on fire, and Danielson was lying in the front yard, badly burned.

She told paramedics that she woke up on fire in bed, and told a neighbor that Fayson was responsible.

The criminal complaint says that a melted two-gallon gas can was found in the residence, and there was evidence of accelerant used on the bed.

Police said they found Fayson on his hands and knees a few blocks away, screaming in pain from severe burns. The complaint says he told police he should not have gone back to the house.

Danielson's mother told WCCO her daughter was a vulnerable adult with severe complications from multiple sclerosis. She said she had tried to get her daughter out of the relationship multiple times.

She says it was only a few weeks ago she reached out to the Hennepin County Adult Protective Services, but she says they didn't do anything.

Danielson's mother says she is devastated by the death of her daughter, but hopes the tragedy will shed light on domestic violence and the lack of resources for loved ones concerned about domestic situations.

Danielson leaves behind a child from a previous relationship.

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