MURFREESBORO, TN – WGNS has more details on an attempted murder that occurred earlier this month in Murfreesboro. According to police, officers were called to a “Domestic Call for Service" in a homeless camp that sits in a wooded area near the 2000 block of South Church Street at I-24.

Once on the scene, police were advised that suspect Charles Hirsch poured rubbing alcohol all over a woman who was laying in a tent. Hirsch then lit the tent on fire and quickly fled the scene, according to a report filed by alleged female victim Mary Rogers.

One of the first responding officers wrote, “Upon my arrival, I could see the smoke from the fire and could hear a loud explosion.” Ms. Rogers stated that she and her boyfriend had been arguing over the past few days and the arguments reportedly led to him making numerous threats to burn down her tent. Ms. Rogers told police this was the second time that Hirsch had poured alcohol on her. She said this most recent incident also involved him pouring the flammable fluid on her, their mattress and her tent. She said when Hirsch exited the tent he lit it on fire before fleeing the scene. A police report documented that officers could actually smell the rubbing alcohol on the victim.

When Hirsch returned to the scene he was detained by police. A report shows he admitted to soaking Ms. Rogers in rubbing alcohol twice and deliberately setting her tent on fire. The suspect allegedly said he set the tent on fire because, “If I can't live there, then she can't either.”

56-Year-old Hirsch was arrested and one of the first officers on the scene documented, “I believe there is probable cause to determine the premeditated and attempted intentional killing of Rogers was carried out by Charles Hirsch, leading me to take out the charge of Attempted First Degree Murder.”

Hirsch was arrested and booked into the local jail on an attempted first degree murder charge. He is being held under a $200-thousand bond and is scheduled to appear in court on November 15, 2023.

CASE: 23-0019544 / AR: 23-002652

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