A North Carolina man who set his girlfriend on fire in a horrifying act of domestic violence outside a Dollar General in Sanford has officially been sentenced to 7 to 10 years in prison.
RELATED: Boyfriend Arrested For Allegedly Setting 20-Year-Old Girlfriend on Fire in North Carolina
According to court records, 23-year-old Jami Raiziah Griffin pleaded guilty to assault with a deadly weapon with intent to injure or kill. His attempted murder and assault on a female charges were dismissed as part of a plea deal. Griffin was sentenced on July 7, 2025.
North Carolina Man Sets Girlfriend on Fire
The attack happened on December 16, 2024, when Griffin ambushed his girlfriend, Ashanti Downey, while she was walking toward a Dollar General on Barbecue Church Road.
Griffin allegedly poured a flammable liquid on her and then set her on fire, leaving her with second- and third-degree burns on the right side of her body.
Downey was first treated at Central Carolina Hospital before being transferred to a burn center for more intensive care. Her mother, Donecia Davis, told reporters recently that Ashanti is still fighting on her journey to healing.
“We ask everyone to continue praying for Ashanti,” Davis said.
Griffin’s Sentence & Jail Time
The North Carolina man who set his girlfriend on fire had been locked up since December 27, 2024, on a $2 million bond. The court gave Griffin 193 days of jail credit toward his prison time.
His Mama Helped Cover It Up?
Griffin’s mother, Latonya Renee Murchison, was also charged for her alleged role in helping her son dodge justice after the attack.
She pleaded guilty to felony obstruction of justice, and two accessory charges were dropped. Murchison received 10 to 21 months, suspended, and was credited with 189 days served in jail. The court also ordered her to perform 100 hours of community service.
RELATED: Sanford Mother Charged with Helping Son Cover Up Alleged Girlfriend Burning Incident
Authorities say Murchison witnessed the assault, failed to report it, and tried to hide the crime. According to warrants, she:
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Transported the victim away from the crime scene
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Provided false information to police
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Tried to discard the victim’s clothing
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Helped her son avoid arrest
The community has rallied around Ashanti Downey. A GoFundMe campaign created last year to support her recovery has now raised over $100,000.
If you’d like to support her healing journey, click HERE to donate.
1 thought on “North Carolina Man Sets Girlfriend on Fire Outside Dollar General — Sentenced to 7-10 Years”
And the community is gonna let her just come back to the community? She needs to move