Woman Suffers Burns Near Fulton, Bruck Cockrell Charged With 1st Degree Domestic Battery
On July 8, 2024 at approximately 8:41 PM, Deputy Kyle Malone and Sergeant Derick Bunn were dispatched to a structure fire at 5045 Highway 67 West. Dispatch advised that a neighbor called stating that his neighbor’s residence was on fire, and that the female who lived there got burned.
Upon arrival Deputy Malone and Sgt. Bunn observed that the fire was actually located at 114 Hempstead 1513. Deputy Malone was advised by Fulton Volunteer Fire Fighter Clay Antley that the female had second and third degree burns all over her body. Deputy Malone then observed that the female later identified as Tonya Cockrell age 35 was burned on what appeared to be 100 percent of her body. Pafford EMS then arrived and transported Ms. Cockrell to Christus St. Michael’s in Texarkana, Texas. She was later transported to Arkansas Children’s Hospital Burn Unit where she is in critical condition
Upon further investigation deputies discovered a can of weed-eater gas in the kitchen of the residence the deputy’s received information from a nurse at St. Michael’s ER stating that Ms. Cockrell told them that her husband poured weed eater gas on her and set her on fire. Ms. Cockrell stated that her husband Bruce was hitting her and punching her, and telling how ugly she was, and then he poured gasoline on me and set me on fire”.
Deputies arrested Bruce Cockrell on charges of Domestic Battery 1st Degree Cockrell was transported to the Hempstead County Detention Center where he was booked on 1st Degree Domestic Battery he is awaiting a first court appearance. Cockrell could face further charges as the investigation continues.