2nd Suspect Charged In Setting Pregnant Woman On Fire

(Updated at 1:55 p.m. Thursday) CAPITOL HEIGHTS, MD — A second suspect faces a slew of charges Thursday for allegedly helping a man set his pregnant girlfriend on fire in Capitol Heights Sept. 8, which forced her to deliver her baby early through an emergency C-section.

Jonathan Miller III, 27, of Temple Hills was charged with attempted first-degree murder for allegedly setting Andrea Grinage, 30, on fire at her apartment, Prince George's County Police announced Thursday. Police arrested a first suspect shortly after the incident occurred—LaQuinn Phillips, 34, a personal trainer from Southeast who was recently accepted to be a D.C. firefighter.

Police believe Miller "assisted Laquinn Phillips in the commission of the crime," police said Thursday. Grinage allegedly told police Miller was in her apartment with Phillips when she was set on fire.

According to NBCWashington, Grinage filed a protective order against Phillips, and said he sent her threatening text messages and told her not to have the baby. Court records show that a temporary no-contact order was granted against Phillips on April 13, 2017. The order was dismissed after the unnamed petitioner did not show up in court.

Officers were called to the home in the 1400 block of Elkwood Ln. at about 11:47 a.m. Sept. 8 for the report of a fire and possible arson. Phillips is accused of dousing Grinage with gasoline when she was in the bathtub in her apartment. Grinage suffered from severe burns and was forced to give birth to her baby seven weeks early, police said.

See Related:

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Police said Grinage was able to tell officers that Phillips was her boyfriend and that he was on the way to D.C. to "do more harm to a relative of hers," Prince George's County police spokesperson Jennifer Donelan said in the press conference.

Based on that information and additional investigation, detectives identified Phillips as the suspect. Upon speaking with a Prince George's County detective, Phillips agreed to turn himself in, police said.

NBCWashington reports Phillips cried during his court date Sept. 13, and his mother, Pamela Phillips, said: "This is not my son. My son could not have done a heinous crime like this. He's being portrayed as this monster."

"We've seen it enough to know, again, that even a person who has never been involved will make an irrational decision based on a temporary emotion," Prince George's County State's Attorney Angela Alsobrooks said.

Phillips is charged with attempted first and second degree murder, arson, assault and several additional related charges.

Miller is charged with attempted first-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, first-degree conspiracy to commit murder, first-degree arson, first-degree assault, second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, and malicious destruction of property, according to court documents obtained by ABC7.

Photo: Phillips on left, Miller on right, mugshots courtesy of PGPD