Additional Coverage:
- Chicago train attack victim Bethany MaGee known as ‘smart,’ from ‘wonderful’ small-town family (foxnews.com)
A 26-year-old woman, Bethany MaGee, is in critical condition after allegedly being set on fire aboard a Chicago CTA Blue Line train on November 17th. Friends and neighbors describe MaGee as a kind, hardworking individual from a close-knit family in Upland, Indiana.
MaGee, an avid reader and high school honors student, is remembered by a former classmate, Ethan, as “incredibly smart. Very soft spoken, very gentle, very smart.”
The tight-knit Christian community in Upland is offering their thoughts and prayers as MaGee remains in a hospital burn unit. A local resident noted the family’s desire for privacy during this difficult time, stating, “They’re a wonderful family… about as loving as you can be.”
The alleged attacker, 50-year-old Lawrence Reed, has a decades-long criminal history and was out on bond at the time of the assault. Reed had been ordered onto electronic monitoring on August 22nd by Cook County Judge Teresa Molina-Gonzalez, who denied a prosecution request to keep him jailed on felony allegations of battery in a hospital psychiatric ward. Transcripts from that hearing show Molina-Gonzalez stating, “I can’t keep everybody in jail because the State’s Attorney wants me to.”
Court documents indicate that Reed repeatedly violated his electronic monitoring curfew and movement restrictions in the days leading up to the alleged CTA attack.
The White House has commented on the incident, criticizing what it termed “liberal soft-on-crime policies” in “deep-blue cities.” A statement on X read, “Liberal soft-on-crime policies are FAILING American communities and endangering law-abiding citizens.
A career criminal with 72 arrests should have never been free to roam the streets. Pray for Bethany.”
Reed has been charged with committing a terrorist attack or violence against a mass transportation system. Federal prosecutors allege that Reed intentionally used gasoline and a lighter to set MaGee on fire.
According to U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois Andrew Boutros, MaGee was “minding her own business and reading her her phone” when Reed approached her, doused her with gasoline, and attempted to ignite it.
MaGee then ran to the back of the train car as Reed ignited the remaining liquid in the bottle and used it to set her on fire.
MaGee was raised in Upland, Indiana, a town of fewer than 4,000 people and home to Taylor University. Her family has requested privacy, with her brother stating, “Thanks for stopping by but no comments at this time.”