Fire Challenge Update: Mom Arrested For Helping 16-Year-Old Son Set Himself On Fire
The fire challenge has become one of the most dangerous social media trends to date. In most cases, participants are teenagers. Now, a mother has been arrested for actually helping her son partake in the potentially dangerous game.
According to the Charlotte Observer, Youth Crimes detectives with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department arrested Janie Lachelle Talley on Wednesday, August 6. The 41-year-old woman was reportedly charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Detectives revealed Talley “was present and aware of what her son was doing.” Police documentation also suggests she “facilitated the recording” of the shocking incident, which took place on July 29.
For those who missed it, the “Fire Challenge Gone Wrong” viral video was previously reported on the Inquisitr. The footage captures Talley’s 16-year-old son dousing himself with flammable liquid, which has been identified as finger nail polish remover. He then asked for a cigarette lighter and set himself on fire. The disturbing video shows the young man screaming hysterically due to the overwhelming blaze he created. Although others were able to help him put the fire out, he did suffer minor burns to his neck and chest.
WARNING: Videos contain graphic language and content.
The video was originally uploaded to Live Leak, but has been shared on several social media platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, Vine, and Instagram. Authorities reportedly began investigating the incident after being notified by witnesses.
The police department released a statement in reference to the incident. In an effort to avoid similar accidents, Facebook has opted to remove all videos that encourage the Fire Challenge.
“The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department discourages this activity due to the extreme danger it poses to everyone involved and takes all complaints seriously,” the police statement said.
Talley is scheduled to appear in court on October 2.
[Image via Bing]
