Florida woman allegedly sets roommate on fire for throwing out pasta

© Clearwater Police Photo

Melissa Dawn Sellers

A Florida man was in critical condition Wednesday after his roommate allegedly set him on fire in a dispute over some spaghetti and meatballs.

Clearwater, Fla., police arrested Melissa Dawn Sellers, 33, for allegedly pouring nail polish remover on her roommate, 42-year-old Carlos Ortiz Jr., and setting him on fire with a cigarette lighter.

The pair had been drinking and fighting about pasta Sellers accused Ortiz of throwing away.

"She was setting little objects on fire, then that turned into pouring nail polish remover all over him, and then all of a sudden, the lighter sparked and he lit on fire," witness Ines Causevic told Bay News 9.

"When he got up, his face was like melting off, it was pink and sore," he added. "His lips were burning."

Ortiz was transported to Tampa General Hospital where he was listed in critical condition with burns to his face, chest and shoulders.

Sellers was detained by police at her stepfather's home nearby and was charged with aggravated battery.