Megan Kimbrough breathing on her own, organs strong, family says

POLK COUNTY - A Lakeland woman set on fire Friday is still fighting for her life at Tampa General Hospital.

Megan Kimbrough, 26, was doused in gasoline and then set on fire by her husband, Joshua Kimbrough, 32, police said.

Megan ran out of her home and into the street where neighbors threw blankets on her and put out the flames. 

According to an arrest affidavit, Megan's clothing melted along with her skin.  She sustained burns over 80 percent of her body and doctors initially said she would not likely live.

Ted Lawhorn, Megan's father, traveled to Tampa from Indiana to be by his daughter's side.  Megan remains in the burn unit in a medically-induced coma.

"She is fighting," said Lawhorn. "She is getting better."

Her family has started a Facebook page called Pray for Megan.  On it, they are updating more 350 people on Megan's condition.

Family members said doctors change Megan's dressings in the morning and visitors are not allowed until after noon. On Wednesday morning, Megan underwent a four-hour surgery to clean the burns on her arms and doctors harvested some of her skin to try and re-grow it, family posted.

Megan is slated to undergo another surgery Friday where donor skin will be placed on her chest, family said.  Megan's parents wrote they are seeing it as a plus that  32 percent to 39 percent of Megan's burns are third-degree and the rest are second-degree and first-degree burns.

As she remains under protective care at the hospital, Joshua remains in the Polk County Jail.  He is facing attempted first-degree murder, arson and false imprisonment charges.

Joshua's parents said the couple met in Indiana and married in 2006.  According to Rita Sanders, Joshua's mother, the couple abused drugs and lost custody of their infant son due to their substance abuse.

"They both got on the wrong track," said Sanders.

Sanders said Joshua moved to Polk City last year from Indiana to try and kick a heroin habit.  Unable to afford rehab, Sanders said her son went through withdrawal inside their mobile home and was often curled up in the fetal position.

David Sanders, Joshua's stepfather, explained that Joshua left Megan behind in Indiana so she could deal with her own substance abuse problems.  Eventually, Megan moved to Polk City and reunited with Joshua.

The Sanders let the now-sober couple move into their home.  David said they both had jobs and were doing well.

"We just wanted them to be happy," he said.

But, things quickly turned south and the couple split up.  Again, after some months passed, they reunited and moved into a Lakeland home that did not have running water or electricity.

Neighbors said the couple would often bathe using another neighbor's hose.

"They were basically living on the streets," David explained.

At this point, Rita and David had no contact with couple.  They first heard about Megan getting burned while watching the news. 

Both believe that drugs fueled this tragedy and said their son has not contacted them from jail.

Joshua appeared in court on Sunday and showed no emotion when told his wife would likely succumb to her injuries.

"I am done with this [expletive] show," Joshua told the judge.

Joshua is also facing a slew of other charges including two counts of attempted kidnapping, armed car-jacking with a firearm and two counts of aggravated assault with a firearm.

Police said Joshua ran to a local convenience store on foot after setting his wife on fire, stole some items, stole a car from a mother and daughter and then burglarized a home. 

Joshua also used a stolen credit card at a gas station, according to police.

He was arrested Saturday morning and did not surrender to police, so K-9 officers were released.  He was found hiding under a mobile home, police said.