Tuscaloosa, AL: Charges to be upgraded after victim's fire death

Published: Tuesday, October 13, 2009 at 3:30 a.m.
Last Modified: Monday, October 12, 2009 at 11:06 p.m.
TUSCALOOSA | A man who allegedly set his girlfriend on fire will be charged with capital murder, investigators said Monday.

Catherine Ann Provo, 46, died at UAB Medical Center in Birmingham on Friday. Capt. Loyd Baker, commander of the Tuscaloosa County Metro Homicide Unit, said Clayton Benjamin Fleming, 47, doused her with gasoline and set her on fire during an argument at her Bonita Terrace apartment off Hargrove Road on Oct. 2.

Tuscaloosa Police officers found the badly burned woman on a neighbor's front porch while responding to the fire. Fleming was initially charged with attempted murder and first-degree arson.

The charge against Fleming will be upgraded to capital murder, because Provo died from the injuries, Baker said.