Lothian Woman Tried to Rob Taxi Driver, Burned Herself to Death Instead

Jacqueline Renee Savoy, 30, of Lothian died on Friday when the taxi cab she was riding in caught fire. Savoy apparently had poured alcohol all over the back of the taxi after the cab driver refused to surrender money, according to Prince George’s County Police blotter according to WJLA Washington’s ABC7.

The incident took place in Prince Georges County.

Savoy has had legal trouble dating to 2002. In total, there are over two dozen police or legal cases filed with various jurisdictions in the state of Maryland. These include failing to pay rent, various liens and judgments, at least two instances of drunk driving, and from June 2012, an assault, theft and possession of marijuana charge. Savoy was in court as recently as Aug. 10 dealing with these issues.

According to ABC7, Savoy’s mother said that her daughter was mentally ill, adding that Savoy wasn’t a bad person and didn’t want to hurt the cab driver. She said that Savoy had been hospitalized for her mental problems in the past, but was released.

The incident that ended Savoy’s life began around 5 p.m. on Friday, when she hailed a cab from the Largo Metro station in Prince George’s County. The driver said that he drove his fare Northview Drive in Bowie (near the movie theatres at Collington and Northview Roads).

The taxi driver said that along the way, Savoy was drinking and smoking in the back seat. The driver said that Savoy first hedged, then got angry about the $34 fare. He said that Savoy grabbed him in a headlock from the back seat, demanding money.

The cab driver said that then Savoy deliberately started pouring alcohol all over the backseat. Alcohol got in the cab driver’s hair and when it was lit, caught fire too. The cab driver escaped, but Savoy did not.

Police have speculated that the door’s rubber seals had melted, possibly trapping Savoy inside the car, the ABC7 report said.

Witnesses came to the aid of the driver, helping put out the flames on his head. Firefighters called to the scene found Savoy inside the car, her body burned so badly that it was unrecognizable.

“Thank God gave me a goodling chance,” he told the ABC7 reporter.

The burned-out remains of the taxi cab sat along Northview Road into the weekend.