Bozeman, MT A woman in Bozeman has been charged with homicide and arson after allegedly setting a van on fire with her boyfriend trapped inside. The incident occurred Wednesday at 6:41 a.m. when the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a vehicle fire at King Arthur Trailer Court.
Firefighters discovered 44-year-old Robert Welch dead in the rear passenger compartment of a white Dodge van after extinguishing the flames. An autopsy revealed that Welch died from smoke inhalation.
Fifty-one-year-old Beth Bakken was arrested later that day about half a mile from the scene. During an interview, Bakken described her tumultuous relationship with Welch, claiming he had been physically abusive.
Authorities spoke to a friend of Bakken who received a call shortly after the fire. Bakken allegedly stated, “I lit his a— on fire. He’s a d—.”
Cellphone data placed Bakken in the area at the time of the fire. She currently remains at the Gallatin County Detention Center on a $500,000 bond. Her next court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 14.