Attempted Murder Suspect to Concord Cop, Calmly: ‘I Did It, I Lit Her on Fire’: Affidavit

CONCORD, NH — A local man with a previous history of an involuntary emergency admission to a health facility allegedly admitted to the horrific and shocking crime of pouring gasoline and setting his own twin sister on fire this week, according to a court document filed in the case. Concord Police and Fire and Rescue teams were dispatched to Woodbine Avenue at just before 3 a.m. on Dec. 15, 2016, for a report of a house fire – with a person on fire inside of the home.

When the reporting officer arrived at the scene, he saw smoke rising from the second floor of the single-family home and several individuals standing in the driveway. The officer realized that he was familiar with the residence since he had been there in the past to assist a woman. Two young boys were seen near a snowbank with a woman who had “sustained significant burns to a majority of her upper body,” according to the reporting officer’s affidavit.

The officer attempted to find out what was going on and turned to Dwayne Crawford, 37, a resident of the home and the only person who was not injured at the scene, according to the officer.

“I asked Dwayne what happened and he very calmly replied, ‘I did it,’” the officer alleged. “I was immediately taken aback by this and asked, ‘Did what?’ Again, Dwayne calmly stated, ‘I did it, I lit her on fire.’ As Dwayne stated this, he displayed very little affect and expressed no emotion.”

Editor’s note: This post was derived from information supplied by the Concord Police Department and Concord District Court. It does not indicate a conviction. This link explains the name removal request process for NH Patch police reports.

Crawford nodded in the direction of the victim – his twin sister, according to the court affidavit – as he allegedly admitted to the crime. The officer stated that this alleged admission “indicated to me that he was clearly referring to this scene and (the victim’s) current condition.”

The officer became concerned about the safety of officers and others at the scene and detained Crawford, placing him in handcuffs while another officer assisted in placing him in a police cruiser.

Concord Fire and Rescue teams placed the victim in an ambulance for transport and as they did, she reportedly began yelling toward the officer, “My brother did this, my bother did this” and “you have to arrest him.” The officer noted that the victim had “severe and disfiguring burns and other associated injuries.”

The reporting officer conferred with a sergeant and another officer, who also alleged that Crawford had admitted to setting the woman on fire, according to the affidavit. The sergeant advised that the victim had told her two children and firefighters that “Dwayne poured gasoline on her and lit her on fire,” according to the affidavit.

Crawford was transported to police headquarters and charged with attempted first-degree murder, arson, first-degree assault, criminal mischief, and reckless conduct; place another in danger, all felonies. He was arraigned on Thursday and held. The victim was later taken to Boston for treatment.

A past run-in with police

While there is limited information about Crawford’s alleged mental health, back in late December 2014, police were sent to his apartment at the Crutchfield Building on Pitman Street to process him for IEA – involuntary emergency admissions – paperwork.

IEA paperwork in New Hampshire usually involves a person with a mental health issue being placed in care against their will.

During the process the IEA almost two years ago, a detective, an officer, and a sergeant attempted to take Crawford into custody and he allegedly fought back, squaring off and raising his fists, attempting to punch the detective. The act of the attempted punch – and later, resisting arrest allegation – caused the detective to get scratched with a bloody cut on his lip and then, head-butt another officer in the nose during the ensuing calamity. The head-butt caused the officer’s nose to bleed, according to the report.

House photo courtesy of Professional Firefighters of Concord, NH - Local 1045