Teh One Who Knocks
06-19-2014, 11:09 AM
By Sarah Horner - The Pioneer Press
http://i.imgur.com/DchGG6Q.jpg
A man is in custody after authorities say he set his roommate on fire in Andover on Monday night.
The Anoka County sheriff's office responded to a report of a possible house fire in the 1300 block of 137th Lane Northwest about 9:40 p.m. and found a man who had been severely burned while inside the home, according to the sheriff's office.
The 55-year-old had been doused with an accelerant and set on fire by his roommate and landlord, Adam John Lilienthal, 29, authorities say, after a dispute between the two men earlier in the night.
The victim suffered third-degree burns on 80 percent of his body and was in critical condition at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis on Tuesday evening.
"It doesn't seem likely that he will survive, but we can't speculate," said Cmdr. Paul Sommer of the sheriff's office.
Lilienthal was arrested by the St. Louis County sheriff's office hours later while potentially en route to a cabin near Orr, Minn.
He had not been charged Wednesday.
The incident shook up the Andover neighborhood Lilienthal has reportedly lived in for over two decades, said Jan Rachel, a 58-year-old who has lived across the street from him for 25 years.
"It's been a wild day here," Rachel said. "We are all so sad for (the victim). Nobody wants to see something so horrible happen to someone."
Squad cars had been out in front of Lilienthal's house earlier in the evening after the disagreement between the men, which ended after both parties told law enforcement they would separate for the evening, Rachel recalled.
Instead, Lilienthal reportedly called two friends and asked them to come over and help evict the man, Rachel said.
"By the time they got here, Adam had already thrown gasoline on him and started him on fire," Rachel said. "He was yelling at them from his car to take off. ... Then (Lilienthal) squeals out of here and leaves this poor guy to burn inside the house."
The two men reportedly heard the man's cries and saw smoke coming from a window and called 911.
Rachel said she didn't know the 55-year-old well but saw him occasionally mowing the lawn.
His name is being withheld while law enforcement attempt to notify his family about his condition.
Lilienthal is known as a troublemaker in the neighborhood, Rachel said, adding that he's had repeated run-ins with law enforcement.
His criminal history includes convictions of disorderly conduct, third-degree assault resulting in great bodily harm, driving while intoxicated, theft and possession of drug paraphernalia.
His relatives could not be reached for comment.
http://i.imgur.com/DchGG6Q.jpg
A man is in custody after authorities say he set his roommate on fire in Andover on Monday night.
The Anoka County sheriff's office responded to a report of a possible house fire in the 1300 block of 137th Lane Northwest about 9:40 p.m. and found a man who had been severely burned while inside the home, according to the sheriff's office.
The 55-year-old had been doused with an accelerant and set on fire by his roommate and landlord, Adam John Lilienthal, 29, authorities say, after a dispute between the two men earlier in the night.
The victim suffered third-degree burns on 80 percent of his body and was in critical condition at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis on Tuesday evening.
"It doesn't seem likely that he will survive, but we can't speculate," said Cmdr. Paul Sommer of the sheriff's office.
Lilienthal was arrested by the St. Louis County sheriff's office hours later while potentially en route to a cabin near Orr, Minn.
He had not been charged Wednesday.
The incident shook up the Andover neighborhood Lilienthal has reportedly lived in for over two decades, said Jan Rachel, a 58-year-old who has lived across the street from him for 25 years.
"It's been a wild day here," Rachel said. "We are all so sad for (the victim). Nobody wants to see something so horrible happen to someone."
Squad cars had been out in front of Lilienthal's house earlier in the evening after the disagreement between the men, which ended after both parties told law enforcement they would separate for the evening, Rachel recalled.
Instead, Lilienthal reportedly called two friends and asked them to come over and help evict the man, Rachel said.
"By the time they got here, Adam had already thrown gasoline on him and started him on fire," Rachel said. "He was yelling at them from his car to take off. ... Then (Lilienthal) squeals out of here and leaves this poor guy to burn inside the house."
The two men reportedly heard the man's cries and saw smoke coming from a window and called 911.
Rachel said she didn't know the 55-year-old well but saw him occasionally mowing the lawn.
His name is being withheld while law enforcement attempt to notify his family about his condition.
Lilienthal is known as a troublemaker in the neighborhood, Rachel said, adding that he's had repeated run-ins with law enforcement.
His criminal history includes convictions of disorderly conduct, third-degree assault resulting in great bodily harm, driving while intoxicated, theft and possession of drug paraphernalia.
His relatives could not be reached for comment.