VAN NUYS, Calif. (KTLA) — Prosecutors have charged a man suspected of setting a homeless woman on fire in Van Nuys with attempted murder.
Dennis Petillo, 24, of Van Nuys, is also charged with aggravated mayhem, the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office said.
He was expected to be arraigned Monday in Los Angeles Superior Court in Van Nuys.
Petillo is accused of dousing a homeless woman with rubbing alcohol while she slept on a bus bench and then setting her ablaze.
It happened early last Thursday morning outside a Walgreens store at Van Nuys Boulevard and Sherman Way.
Police have not released the victim’s name, but area residents identified her as 67-year-old Flo Parker, who was also known as Violet.
She remains hospitalized in critical but stable condition.
Investigators believe Petillo is mentally ill, and say there appeared to be no motive for the attack.
Prosecutors are requesting that his bail be set at $1 million. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Petillo has had previous run-ins with the law.
Since 2008, he has pleaded guilty twice to charges related to vehicle theft. The second time, he was sentenced to two years in prison.
Police arrested a man after he allegedly set a 67-year-old homeless woman on fire while she slept on a bus bench in Van Nuys. She was hospitalized in critical condition.
18 Comments to “Man Charged in Torching of Homeless Woman in Van Nuys”
December 31, 2012 at 11:03 AM
Pinche Mallate!!!
December 31, 2012 at 1:15 PM
^ That
December 31, 2012 at 11:00 PM
Go back to Mexico you dumb beaner. We speak english here.
January 1, 2013 at 1:47 PM
Its not my fault your an idiot and cant speak or understand spanish. Pendejo!!!
January 2, 2013 at 8:34 AM
Hey TexMex, when you say "Your" it's in reference to like "Your house" Like the ghetto house you rent with government help in East LA. When you say in the comment above it should be "You're an idiot" You illeterate dumb Ass Wetback! Learn English too jack Wad!!!
December 31, 2012 at 11:43 AM
This is a hate crime and this slime bag needs to be torched as well. Where's the mayor? If this had been an illegal alien burnt, he would be on TV every five minutes lecturing us. And the same goes for the loser police chief!
December 31, 2012 at 11:03 PM
That dumb beaner mayor Villarigosa is in beanerland Mexico with Charlie Sheen. Yes, believe it or not, he is partying with a white man in Mexico. Google it. The photo won't help his political aspirations I assure you.
January 1, 2013 at 1:43 PM
You mad bro? Cant party with the big boys scotty
December 31, 2012 at 4:48 PM
uptil I looked at the bank draft which was of $4574, I be certain that…my… neighbour actualie bringing home money part-time at there labtop.. there mums best friend haz done this 4 only 6 months and resantly repaid the loans on there mini mansion and bourt Acura. go to ……. BIT40.ℂOℳ
December 31, 2012 at 6:32 PM
Fu@k you again and your continuing money making scam.
December 31, 2012 at 7:12 PM
LOOK AT THIS CATS PHOTO,HE LOOKS EXACTLY LIKE A WILD GORILLA IN AFRICA…..and you know i'm right!..
December 31, 2012 at 11:08 PM
I have to agree, his profile does seem to strongly resemble that of a knuckle dragging gorilla. You can almost imagine him enjoying a banana as he picks his ass.
December 31, 2012 at 10:18 PM
A A A A ..AFRICAN AMERICAN ASPHALT APE…
December 31, 2012 at 10:47 PM
OMG you guys do know that we live in the year 2013 and racism is a terrible thing. You never know that black african DR. might just be the one to save your life…. i really hate the fact that my children (of mixed race) have to go through the same shit our forefathers went through to get us to see people as a people not as a color and now you guys are just bringing us back down..thus the reason for all the bullying and racial hate crimes in our schools….Damnit STOP all this bullshit and just live
December 31, 2012 at 11:05 PM
Well, if you hadn't have had mud babies, your kids wouldn't have to go through the same shit as your forefathers. Stick to your own race.
January 1, 2013 at 1:41 PM
Its funny how @scottyboy has the balls to say all this crap online but i bet he does not have them to say it to anyone in person. Get a life loser!!!
January 7, 2013 at 8:09 AM
Shows you the times have not changed. the uneducated ignorant racist individuals will always be around. Must be tough to live such a miserble life that you feel the need to spew such disgust…while sitting behind a computer. For the record you obviously didn't know spanish as well as English is the official language of California. Evil comes in all colors, so does taking advantage of the PA system. Open your eyes!
January 11, 2013 at 8:35 PM
does anyone know how violet is today? this is the important thing here…. no one else on here should speak of anything else other then the welfare of this women…