Man indicted in burning death of his girlfriend

(WMC-TV) – The man accused by police of setting his girlfriend on fire in a bathtub was indicted on first-degree murder charges Thursday.

According to Shelby Co. District Attorney Amy Weirich, Gregory Powell, 58, got into a fight with his girlfriend, Alice Wells. He then hit her with a stick, and left her in the bedroom as he went to get a can of gasoline from storage. He is accused of dragging Wells into the bathroom where he doused her with gasoline and lit her on fire.

Powell reportedly told police that he watched her burn before putting out the flames with a fire extinguisher. He left the home without calling for help, but later had a friend drop him off at 201 Poplar where he told police what he had done.

Wells was dead when paramedics arrived to the house on Coleman Avenue, which is near the intersection of Highland Street and Summer Avenue in East Memphis.

Powell is being held in jail without bond.