Police: Man douses girlfriend in perfume, sets her on fire

PITTSBURGH — Police in Springdale said a 22-year-old woman was burned on more than 30 percent of her body in an apparent domestic dispute early Thursday morning.

Investigators said they were called to an apartment on Pittsburgh Street about 6 a.m. and found the injured woman, Maria Redman.

Springdale Police Chief Joe Naviglia said Redman's boyfriend threw perfume on her and then lit her on fire with a cigarette lighter.

Police said the man, 27-year-old Clinton Cohen, threw a blanket at Redman and walked out of the apartment. He was not at the scene when officers arrived.

“It was a verbal domestic dispute and he began choking her, then punched her,” Lt. Jeff Korczyk said. “Cohen then opened a bottle of perfume, poured it over the victim and lit it with a cigarette lighter.”

According to police, an infant was in the home at the time of incident, but was not hurt.

Redman was rushed to West Penn Hospital’s burn unit. She’s in critical, but stable condition, officials said.

“She has a long battle ahead of her,” Korczyk said.

Allegheny County police are investigating, and said an arrest warrant has been issued for Cohen.

WPXI