BENSALEM (WTXF) - Officials have filed charges against a man who police say doused a woman in gasoline then set her on fire.
A judge in Bucks County arraigned Kevin Smalls Sunday afternoon. The fire tore through Bensalem's Lincoln Hotel.
The victim of the fatal fire is his girlfriend 46-year old Melissa Bacon-Smith of Philadelphia.
Outside the courtroom, Smalls had a few words to say.
"What do you want to say...I lost it" Smalls told reporters.
Fox 29's Dave Kinchen talked to hotel guests that scrambled to get out of the burning building.
The fire broke out at the Lincoln Motel located at 2277 Old Lincoln Highway around 2:30 a.m. Sunday morning.
According to police, when they and fire officials arrived to the scene, they found a fully evolved fire on the first floor of the motel.
The motel was then evacuated and fire officials were able to extinguish the flames.
Officials are still investigating the incident and Small has been charged with criminal homicide, arson, and numerous other charges.
A first floor room in the motel sustained heavy damage.
The Southeastern Pennsylvania Red Cross assisted with the displaced residents and customers.