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Woman who set self afire in busy Miami mall dies
2009-08-19
MIAMI - A 42-year-old woman who set herself on fire at a Miami shopping mall died less than a week after the shocking scene, police said. Cecilia E. Casals died Tuesday. Police say Casals covered herself in flammable liquid, set it ablaze and walked about until witnesses used two fire extinguishers to put out the flames. Miami-Dade police wouldn't divulge any other details Wednesday. Authorities found Casals unconscious on Aug. 13, with third-degree burns over 75 percent of her body, and airlifted her to a hospital. She was on fire about two-and-a-half minutes. Court records show the woman had a history of mental illness and had been convicted on prescription drug trafficking charges, the Miami Herald reported. In October, Casals received probation in the drug case. The Associated Press could not immediately find a phone listing for Casals' husband. Witnesses said Casals was in a clothing store called Savage Boutique when it happened. Jose Morales, 24, said he was about to pay for earrings for his girlfriend at a nearby kiosk when he heard screams and thought someone had fallen. He turned around to see the blaze and realized someone was burning. "This woman is just walking like this, super slow, completely on fire," Morales said, his arms stretched out at his side. "You couldn't see nothing but fire." ___ Information from: The Miami Herald, http://www.herald.com
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