Crime & Law
Family of Blue Line Burn Victim Launches Fundraiser to Aid in Her Recovery
Bethany MaGee is pictured. (Courtesy of the MaGee Family)
The family of a woman who was set on fire on board a CTA Blue Line train last week has launched an online fundraiser to aid in her medical bills as she recovers from the severe burns she sustained.
A GoFundMe launched by the family of Bethany MaGee has raised more than $12,000 as of Tuesday afternoon. Her family confirmed the fundraiser is authentic through a Cook County Health spokesperson.
“Many of her immediate medical expenses are covered by insurance and a victims fund, but with such a long road ahead of her, the freedom from financial worries would be a tremendous blessing,” MaGee’s family said in a statement on the GoFundMe page. “No gifts are expected, but any that are given will go directly to Bethany.”
Lawrence Reed, 50, was charged last week in a federal complaint with a terrorist attack on a mass transportation system, two days after he allegedly doused MaGee with gasoline and ignited a blaze on board a CTA train downtown.
According to the complaint, Reed was captured on surveillance footage sitting at the far back of a train car, several feet away from MaGee as they both rode the Blue Line just before 9:30 p.m. Monday.
MaGee was sitting with her back to Reed when he allegedly approached, took the cap off of a bottle he was holding and poured a liquid all over her head and body before attempting to ignite the substance.
MaGee attempted to fight off Reed and ran to the front of the train, the complaint states, as Reed lit the bottle in his hand on fire and used it to set the woman ablaze.
According to the complaint, surveillance footage showed MaGee “engulfed in flames,” which she attempted to extinguish by rolling on the ground. When the train stopped at Clark and Lake, she was able to exit before collapsing on the platform as Reed allegedly walked away from the scene.
Immediately following the attack, MaGee’s family asked that Bethany’s name not be published in stories. However, after the fundraiser was launched, they agreed for her to be named publicly, the Cook County Health spokesperson said.
Reed remains held in federal custody pending trial.
MaGee’s family described Bethany as “a beloved daughter, sister, sister-in-law, granddaughter, and aunt. She is a good friend. She is sensitive, caring, intelligent, and imaginative. She loves living in Chicago, and her gentle spirit makes her a favorite with every pet she meets. She enjoys playing tabletop and video games with her community, and she is quick to include others in conversations and make them feel welcome. She is kind.”
In the family’s statement, they confirmed they would not be speaking publicly in order to maintain MaGee’s privacy.
“This will be her story to tell — or not to tell — in the future,” the family said.
