On Wednesday, March 8, a New York City man accused of kidnapping, murder, and other charges was arraigned in court for allegedly tying his ex-girlfriend to a chair in her apartment and then setting her on fire, killing her.

The heinous murder occurred inside an apartment in Cypress Hills, Brooklyn, because the man suspected the woman was stealing and selling his comic books.

According to Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, Lashawn Duffie was charged with first and second-degree murder, kidnapping in the first degree, and robbery in the second and third degrees.

On January 24, Duffie was arrested and held without bail. His next court appearance is scheduled for May 3.

The DA’s office charged Duffie in connection with the murder that shocked the entire city on November 11, 2022.

According to the police, Duffie confronted his ex-girlfriend, 40-year-old Surgery Ramirez, about breaking into his apartment, stealing and selling his beloved comic books.

According to the District Attorney, Duffie went to a bodega near the apartment building and was caught on surveillance cameras buying lighter fluid, twine, and a lighter. He allegedly paid for the goods with cash he had stolen earlier from Ramirez’s friend.

Investigators found out that Duffie broke into Ramirez’s apartment around 3:50 a.m. and assaulted the helpless woman. He tied her to a chair, poured lighter fluid all over her, set her on fire, and then abandoned her to die.

According to the DA’s office, surveillance cameras caught Duffie after the heinous attack throwing a lighter, his clothes, and Ramirez’s identification documents into a dumpster.

Firefighters arrived on the scene quickly, but Ramirez had already died. They took her body to the medical examiner’s office, where it was determined that she died as a result of severe burns and homicidal violence.

Duffie faces life in prison if convicted of the crimes.