A disturbing domestic-violence incident in a quiet North Carolina town has left neighbors shocked and a woman lucky to be alive. According to police, 56-year-old Patrick Tyson faces serious felony and misdemeanor charges after allegedly setting a woman on fire when she refused to fetch him a beer during an argument.
Police say the ordeal began early the morning of Friday, November 21, when officers responded to a domestic-disturbance call at a home on Chipper Curve Road in Sylva, North Carolina. Just after 7 a.m., the female victim told authorities that Tyson threatened to “set her on fire” if she didn’t get him a beer.
Moments later, the situation escalated in the most horrifying way: Tyson allegedly grabbed a bottle of rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol and poured its contents not only on the floor and the couch — where the woman was sitting — but also directly onto her. He then used a cigarette lighter to ignite the alcohol, engulfing the couch and her shirt in flames.
Miraculously, despite the shirt being burned off her body, the victim escaped without physical injuries. She survived the ordeal, though witnesses described the scene as terrifying. The fire spread quickly — damaging the couch, carpeting, and leaving a layer of smoke damage throughout the home. Investigators also reported a shattered stove, allegedly broken when Tyson threw an object at it during the attack.
Firefighters from the Sylva Fire Department arrived soon after to extinguish the flames and secure the scene.
Tyson was arrested at the scene and charged with multiple crimes, including felony assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, first-degree arson, misdemeanor assault on a female, and misdemeanor injury to personal property. He is being held in the Jackson County Jail under a secured bond of $750,000. His first scheduled court appearance is December 1, 2025.
Authorities have not publicly clarified the exact nature of the relationship between Tyson and the woman, describing it only as a “domestic dispute.” What’s clear, though, is that had the fire not been put out quickly, the outcome could have been far worse. The woman’s courage and a rapid response from emergency services prevented what might otherwise have been a tragic — or even deadly — situation.
As the case moves toward court, it serves as a chilling reminder of how easily a moment of anger can turn lethal when alcohol and violence enter the mix.
