After woman set ablaze at Taco Bell in Florida, police investigate string of other fires

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Investigators in Florida are digging through the ashes of six different crime scenes, trying to determine whether they are connected to a suspect accused of walking into a Taco Bell during the dinner rush and setting a woman on fire.

Tallahassee police responded to the fast food restaurant at about 6:15 p.m. Wednesday after a suspect allegedly doused the woman in gasoline and lit her on fire.

The suspect ran out of the restaurant, eluding police for hours, but was apprehended at about 5 a.m. Thursday after a massive law enforcement search. The victim was taken by air ambulance to a hospital with serious burns.

Police identified the suspect as Mia Williams, 32. Police initially identified the suspect as a man but later clarified to say that Williams identifies as a woman.

It's unclear what led to the attack at the Taco Bell. Also unknown is whether Williams was linked to a fire later Wednesday at a church and a string of vehicle fires.

"Everything is still under investigation," said Officer Damon Miller, a spokesman for the Tallahassee Police Department.

Suspect arrested: Woman doused with gasoline, set afire at Florida Taco Bell

No injuries were reported from the other fires, including one at Providence Baptist Church about 2 miles from the Taco Bell.

The Providence Baptist Church fire, which was contained to mostly the back half of the building, destroyed a Sunday School room and a wooden deck and wheelchair ramp outside. The sanctuary, in the front half of the church, sustained smoke damage.

Shawn Peterson, a deacon at the church, said the church has insurance and will pick up the pieces and move on.

"We're a praying church," he said. "I do know that God either calls us or allows things to happen. I do believe that all things happen for a reason and it's just where do we go from here? Not to dwell on who did it, why it was done or that it was done - just what do we do from here."

Meanwhile, Frank Grimes, who lives not far from the church, said he was awakened sometime before 5 a.m. by a woman yelling outside that someone's car was on fire. He walked outside to find his Honda Accord and his brother's Kia Rio on fire in the driveway.

"It was like wow," said Grimes, who called 911 for help.

Williams was booked into the Leon County Detention Center on charges of premeditated homicide, aggravated assault on an officer or firefighter and resisting an officer with violence. The suspect is being held without bond.