Frances Lopez, 33, was living in Oildale, California, when she was doused with gasoline and set on fire at a homeless encampment on July 11, 2026, according to her own account.
She managed to put out the flames by rolling on the ground and call for help, but suffered second- and third-degree burns to approximately 32 % of her body, including her face, arms, legs, and back. She was airlifted to a burn center in Fresno, where she stayed for nearly two months and underwent four surgeries.
She returned home in September, but still needed daily wound care. On October 2, her husband found her unconscious in the bedroom and called 911; emergency responders were unable to save her. Frances left behind two daughters.
The coroner has yet to determine the cause of her death, and so far, no arrests have been announced in connection with the attack. Her family, however, continues to seek answers, and her grandmother Claudia made a desperate plea: “Please help us find them. They killed her”.