Man accused of setting woman on fire turns self in

By Mike Morris and Alexis Stevens

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The man accused of dousing his ex-girlfriend with gasoline and then setting her on fire turned himself in to Cobb County police Wednesday afternoon.

Cobb County police Morgan Elijah Yarbrough is wanted in an attack on woman who was set afire Wednesday at a gas station on Barrett Parkway in Kennesaw.

Enlarge photo

Mike Morris, mmorris@ajc.com Cobb County police and fire investigators look over the car of a woman who was burned at a gas station on Barrett Parkway early Wednesday.

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The woman, identified by Channel 2 Action News as Rachel Brokaw, had pulled up to a gas pump at the BP station and convenience store on Barrett Parkway at I-75 shortly after 2 a.m. when Morgan Elijah Yarbrough, 25, allegedly followed her into the station.

Yarbrough and the woman were arguing "when he doused her with gasoline from one of the pumps and ignited it," Cobb police Sgt. Dana Pierce said.

Yarbrough allegedly then fled in a black 2007 Dodge Charger.

"The victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment with what are being described as severe burns to her body," Pierce said late Wednesday morning.

Three hours after the incident, the store’s parking lot remained roped off with police tape, and several evidence markers surrounded the victim's silver Honda Accord, which was still sitting at the pump,  its trunk area charred.

Pierce said police have charged Yarbrough with aggravated assault (intent to murder), aggravated battery (disfigure) and arson (first degree), all felonies.

Yarbrough turned himself in around 3 p.m., Pierce said. He was booked into the Cobb County jail, where he was being held without bond.