An 18-year old South African teen in Johannesburg who was doused in gasoline by friends and set on fire as part of a satanic ritual died today from her injuries after spending one week in a coma. Kirsty Theologo, who was forced to walk miles for help after the event, had third and fourth degree burns from the waist up, her legs were severely burned, and her lungs and throat were damaged. One of Kirsty Theologo’s friends, a 16-year old known only as “Bronwyn,” suffered burns less severe as she attempted to roll Theologo in the sand to put out the flames. Four young men are now charged with murder.
“The two girls, who had been attending a youth service at their church, were offered alcohol that Kirsty spat out because it had tasted strange,” reports IOL News.
Bronwyn, who is believed to have finished the alcohol, began vomiting.
One of the men allegedly started dancing while Kirsty laughed.
“Suddenly, she (Kirsty) felt wet and the dancing guy lit a match, threw it at her and said ‘laugh at this’,†said Kirsty’s mother, Sylvia Theologo.
Petrol had been thrown on Kirsty, whose throat and lungs were badly burnt as she tried to breathe.
“While Kirsty was burning, one boy cut a third girl’s hand and held it over a Bible so that the blood could soak it, according to one of the girls who was in the group,” The Telegraph notes.
IAfrica News adds,
The 18-year-old was in a coma at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital with 75 percent burns to her body from her waist up. She died shortly after 4am on Friday.
Van Emmerik said one of the attempted murder charges against the four men who allegedly set Theologo and her friend alight would now be changed to murder.
The four appeared in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.
They are Lindon Wagner (21), Robin Harwood (18), Lester Moody (18), and Jeremy King (18).
(Image: IAfrica News)