Fundraiser Set For Woman Set On Fire In Waukesha

WAUKESHA, WI— The community continues to rally around a woman who was set on fire in September.

A fundraiser will be held 12 - 3 p.m. on Nov. 8 at One Source Wellness and Chiropractic in Brookfield. Proceeds will go to help pay medical bills for Amber Fuller, a licensed massage therapist at the clinic. On Sept. 2, Fuller was walking her dogs in Waukesha when she was attacked by a man she didn't know. She suffered second and third-degree burns on her back, abdomen and entire right arm.

Fuller, at the time of the attack, did not have insurance. Due to the extent of her injuries, some of which have required skin grafts, she has been unable to return to work as her medical bills continue to grow.

According to a GoFundMe page for Fuller, her current medical expenses total over $58,000. The GoFundMe so far has raised $51,332. Fuller is waiting to hear back from the Crime Victim Fund and was told her application was received.

"Please join us for an afternoon of fun and prize drawings to help support a Waukesha woman and PEASD alumni in her time of need! You do not need to be present at the time of the drawings to win," according to a Facebook post for the fundraiser.

The attack

Joel Murn, a 39-year-old man from Las Vegas, was charged with the attack.

Murn is facing six felony charges: first degree intentional homicide, two counts of first degree recklessly endangering safety, arson of building without owner's consent, and two counts of arson of property other than building.

Murn was supposed to appear during a court hearing on Sept. 16 but was refusing to come to court, according to online court documents. Murn also refused to attend his Sept. 14 hearing. His cash bond was set at $1 million. His next court date is on Oct. 21.

Officers responded to a report of a woman being set on fire at 8:49 a.m. on Sept. 2, in the 400 block of Lake Street, according to a criminal complaint.

The woman said she was walking her dogs when she was lit on fire by a man she didn't know who was wearing a red ball cap and a gray hoodie. She told police she let go of her dogs because "I was engulfed in flames," according to the complaint. She said she knew of no one who would do that.
A female cousin said Murn had threatened her previously, according to the complaint. The criminal complaint said Murn might have mistaken the woman walking her dogs as his cousin.

The cousin told police Murn has a history of mental health issues due to a traumatic brain injury from a car accident, the complaint said.

At 9:12 a.m., Waukesha police and fire officials were called to Fox Vale Court, where an 83-year-old man had been hit by a vehicle driven by his grandson, identified as Murn, according to officials.

Police said they also determined that Murn acted alone in setting two vehicles on fire — one of which was in a garage and another which was in the driveway. Murn also set a workshop on fire, which caused significant damage, according to the complaint. The 83-year-old man who was struck by the vehicle was taken to the hospital, the complaint said.

Murn's grandparents said they hadn't seen him in 16 years. They received letters accusing the grandfather of giving bad stock advice and stating he was "mentally abused," the complaint said.
Murn was taken into custody at Goerke's Corners Park and Ride located at 400 N. Barker Road later that day.

GoFundMe is a Patch promotional partner.