Man arrested after dousing girlfriend with rubbing alcohol

On Monday, October 11, 2021 the Duplin County Sheriff’s Office received a call for service in the Mount Olive area of Duplin County relating to a serious assault. The caller, a 47 year old female, advised dispatch that her boyfriend, 64 year old Raeford Bell, had doused her with rubbing alcohol and set her on fire. Owens had suffered severe burns over a large portion of her body.

Investigators responded to the scene and began processing the crime scene. Bell was arrested and placed in the Duplin County Jail and charged with Assault with a Deadly Weapon with Intent to Kill Inflicting Serious Injury. Bell appeared before the magistrate and was issued a $1,000,000 dollar secured bond due to the severity of the crime and was returned to the Duplin County Jail.

The investigation is ongoing and additional charges are pending.