A mother was swiftly taken to the hospital and put into a medically induced coma following allegations that she was soaked in gasoline and set on fire. Tulare County sheriff’s deputies responded to a residence in Porterville at approximately 5:30 p.m. on Friday, October 10, where they discovered a woman with severe burns on her face, arms, and torso. She was airlifted to the burn unit at Bakersfield Memorial Hospital and is currently in stable condition but faces a challenging path to recovery.
Sean Hoffman, aged 42, is accused of deliberately pouring a highly flammable substance on the woman and igniting it, as reported by KFSN. He was apprehended at the scene. The victim, identified as Sheena, the wife of Sean, in a GoFundMe campaign initiated by her son, who expressed hope for financial support to aid in his mother’s recovery from what he described as a “horrific domestic violence incident.”
The son mentioned that his mother was in intensive care at Bakersfield Memorial Hospital’s burn unit after being placed in a medically induced coma and sustaining burns on 25% of her body. A spokesperson from the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office stated that upon arrival, deputies found the woman with severe burns and after investigation, it was revealed that Sean Hofmann intentionally set her on fire using a highly flammable substance. The victim was transported to a nearby hospital and remains in stable condition, while Hofmann was arrested without resistance.
The Tulare County District Attorney’s Office confirmed that Hofmann is facing charges of attempted murder, torture, mayhem, arson causing significant bodily harm, and domestic violence, with additional enhancements for violent crimes involving injury, use of a deadly weapon, and alleged commission while on bail. Hofmann pleaded not guilty during his arraignment, as per KFSN.
For those wishing to contribute, donations can be made to the GoFundMe page provided. In case of emotional distress, the Samaritans offer a free helpline accessible 24/7 at 116 123, along with an email contact option or local branch locator on their website.