Tennessee Man Faces Attempted Murder Charges After Allegedly Setting Mother Ablaze During Eviction Dispute

Washington County authorities have taken 32-year-old Dustin Tayler Machen into custody following a violent confrontation with his mother at her residence in Gray, Tennessee. Deputies arrived on the scene on April 9 to find the property engulfed in flames after the victim managed to escape to a neighbor’s home to contact emergency services. Investigators state that the altercation began when the mother attempted to evict her son from the house. Machen allegedly doused both the victim and the structure with gasoline before destroying her mobile phone to prevent her from seeking assistance. The victim sustained burn injuries to her arms during the attack.

Law enforcement officers located Machen in a nearby field, where he was reportedly observing the blaze. He currently faces a series of serious charges, including attempted first-degree murder, aggravated arson, aggravated burglary, attempted kidnapping, and interference with a 911 call. Records indicate that Machen has a history of domestic violence involving the same victim, for which he was previously found not guilty by reason of insanity. During his initial court appearance on April 10, a judge set his bond at $2 million. A preliminary hearing for the case is scheduled for April 23.