Reward doubled to $10K in Wisconsin lighter fluid attack
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A reward has been doubled to $10,000 for information leading to whoever set fire to a biracial Wisconsin woman who says she was attacked while she was driving.
The additional $5,000 reward was announced Tuesday by the Center for Combating Antisemitism, a division of the international nonprofit StandWithUs, in partnership with the Mizel Family Foundation. That matches an earlier $5,000 reward by Madison Area Crime Stoppers for information about the attack on 18-year-old Althea Bernstein.
Wisconsin woman wants burn attackers to know they hurt her
Carly Gammill, director of the StandWithUs Center for Combating Antisemitism, said in a statement the added reward "sends a clear message that we will not ignore this type of vicious crime." The statement described Bernstein as a Jewish Black American.
Bernstein says she was attacked while driving in downtown Madison early on June 24 by four white men who sprayed her with lighter fluid. One allegedly tossed a flaming lighter at her, setting her neck and face on fire. Bernstein was treated for burns at a hospital.
In this undated photo provided by the family of Althea Bernstein shows Bernstein on a fishing outing in Madison, Wisc. On Wednesday, June 24, 2020 four white men sprayed her with lighter fluid and threw a lighter at her, setting her on fire as she was driving in downtown Madison, Wis., during protests that she was not a part of. Bernstein, who is studying to become an paramedic, drove away and patted out the flames. She visited an emergency room later that night, where she said health care workers had to scrub her skin off. She said she will eventually need plastic surgery. Authorities as investigating the incident as a hate crime.[Photo courtesy of family of Althea Bernstein via AP]
The attack happened just blocks from where violent protests were occurring at the state Capitol. Police have said they are investigating the attack as a hate crime, with assistance from the FBI.