Death penalty sought for man accused of burning girlfriend

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Prosecutors in Florida say they’ll seek the death penalty in the case of a man accused of setting fire to his girlfriend inside a buffet restaurant where she worked.

Darryl Whipple pleaded not guilty to a first-degree murder charge in court Tuesday. At the hearing, prosecutors filed notice saying they intended to seek the death penalty at trial against the 58-year-old man for the attack Oct. 12 at a Golden Corral eatery in Jacksonville.

Authorities say Whipple doused his girlfriend, 56-year-old Carol Demmons, with lighter fluid and ignited her with a lighter as she ran from the restaurant.

Jacksonville television station WJXT (http://bit.ly/2g6ENR2 ) reports Demmons had burns on almost two-thirds of her body and later died at a hospital.

Relatives of Demmons attended Tuesday’s hearing, WJXT reported.

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Information from: WJXT-TV, http://www.news4jax.com/index.html

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