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On March 30, 2022, Joie Hellmich, a clerk at a Circle K gas station in Pensacola, Florida, became the victim of a heinous crime.
A woman poured gasoline on the innocent clerk and set her on fire, apparently without any reason.
Police officers were called by worried neighbors and witnesses.
When the distress and trauma teams arrived, they were shocked by the severe burns the store employee had endured.
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| Betty Jean McFadden |
From Unsettling History to Brutal Crime
Before her most recent crime in 2022, Betty Jean McFadden had a history of being on the wrong side of the law.
She had been arrested for throwing a brick at a convenience store worker who politely asked her to leave in 2019.
During her arrest that year, Betty Jean McFadden reportedly bit and scratched at officers.
She also displayed erratic behavior during her interrogation.
Betty was known to be a very violent drug user, with her mother confirming these facts in a statement to the police.
Her mother also said that Betty shouldn't have been released from prison at the time because of her violent tendencies.
She claimed that Betty had been diagnosed with schizophrenia as early as 2010.
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| Betty Jean McFadden |
On March 30, 2022, security footage showed Betty walking into a gas station with a gas can she borrowed from a neighbor.
She didn't have any money for the gas, so someone paid for her, assuming she needed it for something urgent.
By the time she left with her can full of gas, no one suspected anything was wrong.
Soon after, Betty went into the store and attacked the clerk named Joie Hellmich.
Betty lunged at Joie, pouring gasoline on her and then lighting a match, which set her on fire.
She claimed the clerk had provoked her first, leading to the attack, but security cameras showed a different story.
Security cameras also showed Betty walking out casually after committing the gruesome assault.
Witnesses who saw the attack called the police, and it didn't take long for the authorities to track her down and make the arrest.
Chaos in the Interrogation Room
Betty's erratic behavior started as soon as she was arrested and placed in the back seat of the police car.
She cursed and mumbled unintelligible words, a behavior similar to what was seen in videos of her 2019 arrest.
When they arrived at the station for questioning, Betty initially cooperated and was willing to discuss the circumstances of her arrest.
However, few minutes into the interrogation, she went totally haywire.
Her story was confusing and lacked any structure.
She initially said she attacked the clerk to rob the store but later claimed it was for revenge over something the clerk supposedly said.
However, security cameras showed no interaction between them before the attack.
Betty’s sudden hysterical laughter and violent outbursts during the interview provided insight into her mental state and how unfit she was for society.
Betty seemed genuinely excited about the severe state of her victim's injuries.
She asked officers unbelievable questions like "Is she burned black, crusted?" and "Is her brain burnt like a vegetable?".
Check out excerpts from the shocking interrogation video below:
Authorities later confirmed that Betty Jean McFadden attacked the clerk after being asked not to beg outside the store.
She left, got a can of gasoline, and returned to the store to carry out the attack.
Justice Served: The Conviction and Aftermath of Betty Jean McFadden
Betty was considered mentally unfit to stand trial until a year after the crime was committed.
Betty was charged with first-degree attempted premeditated murder.
She pled no contest and was sentenced to life imprisonment on February 7, 2024.
Miraculously, Joie survived her burns thanks to multiple reconstructive surgeries and ongoing treatment.
Joie had to live with permanent scars from the attack, but despite the odds, she survived the senseless violence.
Despite being shaken, Joie, a single mother, found closure knowing that Betty was finally put behind bars.
Here is a longer video of her unbelievable behavior with a more in-depth analysis of this case.
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