A woman who passed away after being set on fire by her ex-boyfriend played a crucial role in securing his conviction even after her death.
Judy Malinowski succumbed to her injuries in June 2017, after enduring two painful years in the hospital. Her ex-boyfriend, Michael Slager, had drenched her in gasoline and ignited it at a gas station during an argument.
Throughout those two years, the 31-year-old mother from Ohio underwent more than 50 surgeries in an attempt to survive the brutal attack. The incident on August 2, 2015, left over 90% of Judy’s body covered in severe burns.
Despite the catastrophic injuries caused by Slager, he initially received a sentence of just 11 years after entering a no contest plea to charges of aggravated arson and felonious assault.
Determined to see justice served, Judy agreed to provide testimony to ensure Slager faced the full consequences of his actions.
In a conversation with PEOPLE in 2023, her mother Bonnie shared, “Judy said, ‘Mom, not even an ant should be set on fire. I got a life sentence and he didn’t.’”
Judy made a tremendous sacrifice to testify legally; she had to reduce her medication, enduring more pain, to be considered of sound mind.
Having previously battled ovarian cancer and struggled with an opiate addiction after a hysterectomy, Judy was eventually deemed legally competent. She recorded a three-hour video testimony detailing the attack and its aftermath.
During the courtroom proceedings in Franklin County, she recounted that after she threw a drink at Slager during an argument, he retrieved gasoline from his truck. “He ran around me and started pouring gasoline, started at my head and worked his way down,” she described.
“Some got in my throat as he did that. That burnt really bad.”
In her account, Judy described Slager, whom she met through social media, as having a “pure evil” expression during his attack.
“I just remember crying and begging for help, and he lit me on fire. And the look in his eyes … his eyes went black, literally,” she recalled. “After I was set on fire, and he backed away, his eyes just turned black as I screamed for his help. And he did nothing.”
Despite her resilience, Judy succumbed to her injuries in June 2017 at the age of 33, just months after providing her testimony.
In the wake of her death, Slager was charged with murder, to which he pleaded guilty. Judy’s recorded testimony was pivotal in securing his conviction and a life sentence without parole.
Judy’s family continued their efforts, advocating for the passage of Judy’s Law, which would impose specific penalties in cases where arson results in severe injury or disfigurement.
“She hung on and fought for justice,” her mother expressed. “She suffered beyond measure to make a change for other women.”
Judy’s ordeal was also documented in the MTV film, The Fire That Took Her, which is available for viewing on Paramount+.
If you are facing domestic violence, know that help is available. You can reach the national domestic violence helpline at 1.800.799.SAFE (7233) any time of day. Additional resources can be found here.