A British man accused of setting a Virginia city council member on fire appeared in court Tuesday, claiming his actions were motivated by revenge over an alleged affair. Authorities say Shotsie Michael Buck-Hayes, 29, attacked Danville City Council member Lee Vogler, 38, inside his office in July.
During a preliminary hearing, Buck-Hayes alleged that Vogler had an affair with his wife, though investigators have not confirmed whether the claim has any truth. Prosecutors charged Buck-Hayes with attempted first-degree murder and aggravated malicious wounding, local WDBJ reported.
According to testimony, he brought five gallons of gasoline into the Showcase Magazine office where Vogler worked and used it to set him ablaze. Blair Vogler, the councilman’s wife, said her husband has endured months of treatment since the attack.
“It took 35% of his skin to cover up the second- and third-degree burns he suffered during the incident, which spread to 60% of his body,” she said. Vogler remains hospitalized and continues undergoing procedures.
Witnesses at the hearing described the chaos of the attack. Showcase Magazine employee Stephen Seiple testified, “The next thing I remember was Lee screaming, ‘call 911, he threw gas on me.’ He came running by. He had a burgundy shirt on, I could smell gas.”
Seiple said he saw someone chasing Vogler with a bucket. “Somebody came behind Lee with a bucket,” he recalled, identifying Buck-Hayes in the courtroom. “I called 911, and by the time I got to Lee’s office, they were going out to the street. When I got [out front], his shirt had been burned off. His chest was very pink, and his arms were really, really bad.”
After the attack, Buck-Hayes fled the building but was arrested just blocks away when witnesses provided police with a description of him and his vehicle. Court records show that Buck-Hayes’ wife, Mary Alice, had filed for divorce two weeks before the incident.
Meanwhile, Vogler’s wife Blair has organized a GoFundMe campaign to cover mounting medical expenses. The fundraiser has brought in $160,000 so far. In her most recent update, she said Vogler had undergone another skin graft. “This process is slow, challenging, and sometimes frustrating, but Lee is determined, and we have faith that he will keep pushing forward.
We’re so thankful to have you all by our side, and we continue to draw strength from the love and encouragement you provide.” Buck-Hayes is scheduled to reappear in court on October 27 as the case moves forward.