Waukesha Woman Set On Fire: Vegas Man Pleads No Contest

WAUKESHA, WI—A 40-year-old man from Las Vegas pleaded no contest Monday to felony charges in an incident in which a woman was set on fire in Waukesha.

Joel Murn pleaded no contest Monday to attempted first-degree intentional homicide and two counts of arson of property, all felonies, in Waukesha County Circuit Court, according to court documents.

The court dismissed two counts of first-degree recklessly endangering safety and one count of arson of building, the documents said.

Murn will be sentenced on Oct. 25. He faces a maximum penalty of 60 years in prison on the first count and 40 years on the other two counts. He will remain in custody until sentencing.

"The stress of this case being open is always on the back of my mind, and it’s been exhausting," Amber Fuller, the woman Murn attacked, told Patch on Monday. "I’m very glad that almost a year later progress to sentencing has been made, and I can hopefully have a feeling of closure and justice when it’s all done."

Mistaken Identity?

Murn entered the plea in the case of Fuller, who was set on fire shortly before 9 a.m. Sept. 2 in the 400 block of Lake Street, according to a criminal complaint.

Fuller said she was walking her dogs when a man she didn't know set her on fire. She told police she let go of her dogs because "I was engulfed in flames," according to the criminal complaint. She said she knew no one who would do that.

Murn's female cousin told police he had threatened her previously, according to the complaint. Murn might have mistaken the woman walking her dogs as his cousin, the complaint said.

At 9:12 a.m. that morning, a car driven by Murn struck his grandfather, William Godfrey, 83, according to the criminal complaint and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Godfrey was taken to the hospital and survived.

Murn was also accused of setting two cars on fire — one that was in a garage and another that was in the driveway. Murn also set a workshop on fire, causing significant damage, according to the complaint.

Murn's grandparents said they hadn't seen Murn 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 at 400 N. Barker Road later that day.

A GoFundMe fundraiser for Amber Fuller raised nearly $56,000.

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