Police: Man found after setting girlfriend on fire

ST. PETERSBURG (FOX 13) - Officers said they found the man accused of setting his girlfriend on fire hiding in a vacant home nearby. 

St. Petersburg police said 37-year-old John Riggins apparently poured gasoline on his girlfriend before setting her on fire. It happened at 2800 24th Avenue South in St. Petersburg after the two were fighting around 8 p.m. 

The woman's aunt reportedly put her in a tub with water to put out the fire. Riggins ran out of the house. When he was found, officers said he had significant burns on his arms.  

The woman was airlifted to Tampa General Hospital with severe burns covering about 60-percent of her body.

Riggins has an arrest history dating back to 2006 for first degree arson, domestic battery by strangulation, resisting an officer with violence, trespassing, felony DWI - habitual offender, battery of a law enforcement officer, marijuana possession and depriving an officer of means of communication.