A 26-year-old woman, Bethany MaGee, was allegedly set on fire by a career criminal, Lawrence Reed, on a Chicago CTA Blue Line train. Friends and neighbors describe her as kind, hardworking, and from a close-knit, small-town family in Upland, Indiana.
Reed, a 50-year-old repeat offender with 72 arrests, had been released on bond just days before the attack, according to authorities. His repeated violations of electronic monitoring conditions and movement restrictions were noted in court documents, indicating a pattern of non-compliance with the law.
The White House has weighed in on the incident, criticizing left-wing policies in deep-blue cities as a failed approach to crime prevention. The statement on X asserted that liberal soft-on-crime policies are endangering law-abiding citizens and emphasized the need for stricter measures to keep dangerous individuals like Reed off the streets.
Reed faces charges of conducting a terrorist attack or committing violence against a mass transportation system. Federal prosecutors allege that Reed intentionally used gasoline and a lighter to set MaGee on fire aboard the train. MaGee was reportedly minding her own business and reading her phone when Reed approached her from behind, doused her head and body with gasoline, and attempted to ignite the liquid.
MaGee’s family, who resides in a small, tight-knit Christian community in Upland, Indiana, is described as loving and private, with the parents expressing a desire for privacy as they process the tragedy. A local resident noted the community’s collective prayers for the family as they navigate this dark period.
Neighbors and former classmates highlighted MaGee’s academic achievements, including honors classes at her high school in Indiana. Ethan, a former classmate, described her as ‘incredibly smart, very soft spoken, very gentle, and very smart.’ The tragedy has sparked concern across the community, with many expressing support for the family and calls for stricter legal oversight.
Local authorities have stated that Reed had been ordered onto electronic monitoring on August 22, following a court decision by Judge Teresa Molina-Gonzalez. However, the court’s reasoning, as revealed in transcripts, indicates the judge’s reluctance to keep Reed in jail, citing the State’s Attorney’s requests as the determining factor.
As the investigation continues, the community in Upland, Indiana, and across the nation grapple with the implications of the attack, reflecting on the broader issues of criminal justice reform and public safety.