Fulton woman suffers from third degree burns that was rescued from a house fire

Monday night at approximately 8:41 pm, deputies with the Hempstead County Sheriffs office were dispatched to a structure fire on Highway 67 West in Fulton. Deputy Kyle Malone and Sergeant Derick Bunn were advised that a neighbor called into 911 and stated their neighbor’s house was on fire, and that a female who lived there had been burned.

Deputy Malone reported a member of the Fulton Volunteer Fire Department informed him that the female had second and third degree burns all over her body. The female who was identified as 35-year-old Tonya Cockrell was burned on the majority of her body. She was transported to Christus St. Michael’s Hospital in Texarkana, Texas by Pafford EMS and later transported to the burn unit of Arkansas Children’s Hospital. Cockrell is listed in critical condition.

Deputies reported that a can of weed-eater gas was found in the kitchen of the residence. Medical personal in the emergency room of St. Michael’s reported Cockrell informed them that her husband, Bruce Cockrell had poured gas on her and set her on fire. According to the incident report, Tonya Cockrell told the medical staff that Bruce was hitting her and punching her, while telling her how ugly she was. She said he then poured the gasoline on her and set her on fire.

Bruce Cockrell has been arrested and charged with Domestic Battery in the first degree. Cockrell could face additional charges as the investigation continues.