Police looking for suspect who allegedly set woman on fire

Extensive fire damage can be seen at the home of a woman police say was set on fire by Lewis Reeder early Saturday morning.

Fairfax County Police are looking for a man after he allegedly set a woman on fire inside her Woodlawn-area home early Saturday morning.

Police say Lewis Edward Reeder is wanted for arson and malicious wounding after allegedly setting the woman on fire at 4911 Keeler Court around 1:30 a.m. Reeder and the victim, who both lived at the residence, were involved in an argument prior to Reeder allegedly setting the woman on fire, police said.

Lewis Reeder

Firefighters found the woman after extinguishing the house fire, according to police. She was medevaced to a local hospital with injuries that police said were life-threatening. Her name has not yet been released by police.

Reeder fled before authorities arrived.

Neighbors said Saturday they were awakened by police urging them to leave their houses because of the fire. They described the victim as a friendly retired woman known more by her nickname, “Sweetie.” Reeder was her boyfriend, neighbors said.

According to a public records search, Reeder was charged in Fairfax County with assault and battery against a family member in July 2015. He was also charged with criminal domestic violence in Spartansburg, South Carolina in 2013. It’s unclear how either case was resolved.

Note: This story was updated to correct the last name of the suspect.