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Homestead Woman Accused Of Setting Man On Fire To Stand Trial

HOMESTEAD (KDKA) -- A Homestead woman accused of trying to kill a man during a botched drug deal will stand trial.

A judge determined that there was enough evidence to hold 34-year-old Marlena Jones for trial on attempted homicide and related charges.

Police say back in July, Jones and an unknown man drove the 19-year-old victim to Pittsburgh to purchase drugs when an argument broke out.

Jones is accused of stripping the victim, tying him up and putting him in a large plastic container.

She then allegedly drove him to a rural area of Young Township along Route 286 where she's accused of trying to shoot him.

The gun reportedly misfired, so Jones and the accomplice tried to set the victim on fire.

The victim was able to put out the flames after Jones and the other man fled the scene.

"We had a preliminary hearing on all the charges," defense attorney Kevin Abramovitz said. "We couldn't negotiate anything out with the district attorney and the judge did hold all the charges for court."

"And I understand that this level credibility's not an issue, but it will become an issue at trial and there was no doubt that certain parts of the alleged victim's testimony made absolutely no sense," he added.

Jones remains in jail on $500,000 bond while she awaits trial. Police have not yet identified a man who was with her at the time of the alleged crime.

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