Angel Nahle, a 24-year-old Phoenix man, has been charged with multiple felonies after police allege he intentionally set his ex-girlfriend on fire while she was still on a FaceTime call with him, then remained constantly at her hospital bedside to prevent her from reporting the attack, according to court documents.
Background
Nahle and the victim had ended their romantic relationship just one day before the May 25 incident in Maricopa County. According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by Law&Crime, Nahle "repeatedly FaceTime called and texted her throughout the night, becoming increasingly angry when she did not respond." The escalating contact set the stage for the violent confrontation that would follow.
During an early morning FaceTime call around 4 a.m., Nahle yelled at his ex-girlfriend, accused her of infidelity, and threatened to harm her and burn her vehicle. During these calls, he displayed a water bottle containing what he stated was gasoline and told her he would use it, according to police.
The confrontation escalated when Nahle arrived unannounced at the woman's apartment while still on the FaceTime call. She initially remained inside her sister's apartment out of fear but eventually walked outside in an attempt to de-escalate the situation.
The Investigation
According to the affidavit, as the woman spoke with Nahle and momentarily looked away, he approached her and splashed an unknown liquid believed to be gasoline onto the left side of her body. She then heard Nahle utter a word and observed him holding a lighter at his waist. Seconds later, the liquid ignited, engulfing the left side of her body and clothing in flames.
When questioned by police, Nahle claimed that while his ex was burning on the ground, "he realized that he loved her and helped pull her burning shirt off of her," according to the affidavit.
The victim sustained third-degree burns requiring multiple surgeries at a local hospital. Nahle allegedly directed her to lie to medical staff, claiming the burns resulted from a vehicle carburetor fire. The woman reported that after the incident, Nahle remained with her constantly during her hospital stay, which she believed was intended to prevent her from telling hospital staff that he was responsible.
The victim told police she continued the relationship for several weeks afterward, attributing this to fear for her safety. She also stated she feared that if Nahle was released from jail "he would kill her," noting that he had threatened to kill her several times and proved capable of doing so by lighting her on fire, according to the affidavit.
Nahle was arrested at his workplace in Tempe. He declined to answer any questions after being taken into custody.
Key Takeaways
- Nahle has been charged with aggravated assault and stalking in Maricopa County Superior Court
- The attack occurred just one day after the victim ended her relationship with Nahle
- Police allege Nahle showed a gasoline-filled water bottle during FaceTime calls before arriving at her apartment
- The victim sustained third-degree burns requiring multiple surgeries
- Nahle allegedly coached his ex to lie about the cause of her injuries, telling medical staff it was from a vehicle carburetor fire
- He remained constantly at her hospital bedside, which she believes was to prevent her from reporting him
What's Next
Nahle remains in custody following his arrest. His case is pending prosecution in Maricopa County Superior Court, where he faces multiple felony charges including aggravated assault and stalking. No trial date has been set as of this report.