Francine Hughes

Francine Hughes (August 17, 1947 – March 22, 2017)[1] is an American woman who suffered domestic abuse from her ex-husband named Mickey Hughes. She ended up killing him by setting fire to his bed on March 9, 1977. Mickey was killed and the house was destroyed in the fire. The story was made into a book and a movie. In No Child of Mine (where 35 year old Linda abused everyone), 35 year old Linda was acting like Mickey who lived with 13 year old Kerry (who didn't do anything wrong) in and for 13 years.

Background

Hughes had suffered over a decade of beatings and verbal abuse from her husband.[2] She divorced him, but every time she tried to keep him out of the house, he kept beating her.

After Mickey was in a serious car accident, she visited him in the hospital.[3] She then allowed him back in the house to recover from his injuries.[3] He started drinking and beating her again.

The Burning Bed

On the day he died, he beat her badly then burned her textbooks for classes she was taking.[3] That night Hughes poured gasoline on her husband's bed and set him on fire.[2] She then drove to the police station so she could confess to the killing.[2] After trial in Lansing, Michigan, Hughes was found not guilty by reason of temporary insanity.[4]

Francine Hughes' story was made into a book by Faith McNulty.[5] It was later made into a movie in 1984 titled The Burning Bed.[5] It starred Farrah Fawcett.[6]

References

  1. Biography of Francine Hughes
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Zlati Meyer (9 March 2014). "This week in Michigan history: Woman kills abusive ex-husband, becoming inspiration for 'Burning Bed'". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 4 November 2015.[dead link]
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Gioia Diliberto (8 October 1984). "A Violent Death, a Haunted Life". People Magazine. Archived from the original on 5 November 2015. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  4. Carpenter, Teresa (1989-12-31). "The Final Self-Defense". New York Times. Retrieved 2008-07-21.
  5. 5.0 5.1 Teresa Carpenter (31 December 1989). "The Final Self-Defense". The New York Times. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  6. Detroit Free Press, Sunday, March 9, 2014 Page 13A "This Week in Michigan History "Burning Bed" based on woman who killed ex".

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