A man in Hubei poured gasoline on his ex-girlfriend, causing her to suffer severe burns covering 69% of her body and leading to disfigurement and limb amputation. He has been sentenced to 12 years in prison in the first trial. The victim has undergone 12 skin graft surgeries and is still receiving treatment in the hospital, with medical expenses amounting to over a million yuan.
In December 2024, a 27-year-old woman named Xiao Chen from Enshi, Hubei, posted videos and photos online alleging that her ex-boyfriend, whose surname is Tan, had been in a relationship with her for three years. After Tan proposed a breakup in 2023 and later sought reconciliation, he resorted to various forms of harassment. Xiao Chen refused, leading to an incident on October 19 when Tan set her on fire with gasoline, resulting in second-degree physical disability, with 69% of her body suffering severe third to fourth-degree burns, amputation of her left hand, and facial disfigurement.
Following the incident, Tan was charged with attempted murder by the Enshi City Procuratorate.
On December 31, 2024, Xiao Chen received the criminal verdict, with the defendant Tan being convicted of attempted murder and sentenced to 12 years in prison in the first trial.
In January 2025, Xiao Chen revealed that her family also cares for a disabled person with intellectual disabilities and epilepsy. She stated that she is the emotional pillar of her parents, with her mother saying that she would not be able to go on if Xiao Chen were not around. Xiao Chen has remained strong with her family, despite her grandmother passing away due to the distress caused by the incident.
According to reports from mainland media, Xiao Chen and her ex-boyfriend Tan met online and began dating shortly thereafter. Xiao Chen described Tan as generally treating her well, but he would resort to verbal abuse and even became physically violent during arguments.
In 2023, they met each other’s parents, but Xiao Chen’s parents disapproved of Tan, considering him as introverted and uncommunicative. Xiao Chen expressed regret for not heeding her parents’ advice and continuing the relationship with Tan.
In July 2023, Tan suddenly proposed a breakup, only to change his mind the next day, seeking reconciliation. Xiao Chen, unwilling to reconcile due to Tan’s erratic behavior, faced relentless harassment. Tan threatened to commit suicide on WeChat and blamed Xiao Chen for his potential death.
In October of the same year, Tan persisted in harassing Xiao Chen. She sought police assistance, but the next day, Tan broke into her office by climbing over a wall and splashed gasoline on her body from a bottle. Recalling the terrifying experience, Xiao Chen shared that when Tan poured the first bottle, she tried to run away. He ignited her clothes, poured a second bottle, and blocked the door, preventing her escape. Xiao Chen hid under a desk and eventually lost consciousness.
Upon admission to the hospital, Xiao Chen received a critical condition notice due to severe burns covering 69% of her body. Her side and limbs suffered the most severe burns, resulting in the amputation of her left hand fingers. She spent almost a month in a coma in the hospital and another four months bedridden without mobility.
Xiao Chen has undergone 12 skin graft surgeries and continues to receive treatment in the hospital, with medical expenses exceeding a million yuan. She will require further surgeries in the future, and the road to recovery, aesthetics, and scar removal is long and challenging. She now struggles to take care of herself and relies on her mother to feed her.
Following the incident, Tan was charged with attempted murder. In July of the previous year, the court held a trial for the case. Through mediation, Tan’s family agreed to compensate approximately 500,000 yuan and hoped Xiao Chen would provide a letter of forgiveness, which was declined by her and her family. Xiao Chen disclosed that Tan has only paid over 50,000 yuan in compensation.
Currently, Xiao Chen has lodged an appeal, hoping for a harsher sentence for the perpetrator. She expressed her confusion, saying, “I did not cheat him out of money or feelings. I cannot understand why he treated me this way.”