A horrifying case from Tennessee has shocked many after a man allegedly attacked his own mother in a brutal and dangerous way. What started as a family dispute over eviction quickly turned into a life-threatening incident involving fire and serious injuries.
Shocking incident in Tennessee
Dustin Tayler Machen, 32, has been arrested and faces multiple serious charges, including attempted first-degree murder, aggravated arson, aggravated burglary, and interfering with a 911 call.
The incident took place early Thursday morning at a house on South Pickens Bridge Road in Washington County, Tennessee. Police reached the spot after receiving reports of a fire.
House found completely on fire
When deputies arrived, they saw that the house was fully covered in flames. The situation was extremely dangerous, and emergency teams had to act quickly.
The person who reported the fire was the victim herself — Machen’s mother. She told authorities that her son was responsible for setting both her and the house on fire.
Dispute led to violent act
According to officials, the victim had been in the process of evicting her son from the house. This led to a serious argument.
Police said that Machen left the house after the dispute but later returned with a container of gasoline. He allegedly poured the fuel on both his mother and parts of the house.
Attack and attempt to stop emergency call
Authorities claim that Machen then set his mother on fire while she was trying to escape. To make things worse, he allegedly destroyed her mobile phone to stop her from calling for help.
Despite this, the woman managed to escape from the burning house. She ran to a nearby neighbour’s home and successfully called 911.
Victim’s condition and rescue
The victim suffered burns on her arms and was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. The full extent of her injuries has not been confirmed yet, but she survived the attack.
Her quick thinking and courage played a major role in saving her life.
Arrest of the accused
After the incident, deputies searched the nearby area and found Machen not far from the scene. Reports say he was standing in a field, watching the house burn.
Police also used a drone during the search, which helped locate a backpack containing his personal belongings.
Authorities confirmed that Machen had a history of domestic violence involving his mother.
Legal action and charges
Machen has been taken into custody and is currently being held at the Washington County Detention Center without bond.
He is facing several serious charges:
- Attempted first-degree murder
- Attempted especially aggravated kidnapping
- Aggravated arson
- Aggravated burglary
- Interfering with a 911 call
He was expected to appear in court shortly after his arrest.
