JONESBOROUGH, Tenn. — A man from Washington County has been charged with multiple felonies after allegedly dousing his mother with gasoline and setting her home ablaze during a heated family dispute. The incident occurred on April 9 when the mother attempted to evict her son, 32-year-old Dustin Tayler Machen.
Machen faces serious charges including attempted first-degree murder, attempted aggravated kidnapping, aggravated arson, aggravated burglary, and interference with a 911 call. As the case progresses through the legal system, prosecutors have requested a mental evaluation for Machen before moving forward with a preliminary hearing.
According to investigators, the violent altercation escalated as the woman tried to remove Machen from the house. Sheriff Keith Sexton reported that he returned to the residence with gasoline, intending to harm both his mother and her home. The woman managed to escape the inferno, seeking refuge at a neighbor’s house, where she was able to call for emergency assistance.
Emergency responders arrived to find the residence fully engulfed in flames. The woman sustained burns to her arms and was initially transported to a local hospital before being airlifted to Vanderbilt University Medical Center for further treatment. A full medical update has not been provided, leaving the severity of her injuries uncertain.
Authorities have yet to clarify details surrounding the property ownership or whether formal eviction proceedings had been initiated. The house, located on South Pickens Bridge Road, was reported as completely destroyed by the fire.
In the days following the incident, deputies launched a search in the vicinity of the home. Using a drone, they discovered a backpack containing personal items. Machen was located nearby, allegedly watching the fire from a field, and was subsequently taken into custody. His arrest turned a domestic dispute into a serious legal matter, prompting the prosecution to advocate for a high bail, which was set at $2 million during his initial court appearance.
This incident marked a troubling escalation in an already fraught mother-son relationship. Sheriff Sexton noted that Machen had prior domestic violence charges linked to his mother. Reports also indicated that he had previously been deemed not guilty by reason of insanity in connection with prior domestic violence allegations. While these earlier cases provide background to the current charges, they remain distinct from the events of April 9.
Machen’s first preliminary hearing, scheduled for April 23, did not take place as expected. The state sought a postponement for a mental health evaluation to ascertain Machen’s mental state before the case could proceed. As of May 4, court officials had not disclosed the outcome of that evaluation, and it remains unclear whether Machen has retained legal counsel.
The circumstances surrounding the fire garnered considerable attention in Washington County, particularly due to the woman’s desperate situation. Authorities noted that she was cut off from emergency assistance after Machen destroyed her cellphone, making her escape to a neighbor’s house crucial for her survival. The timeline of events—ranging from the burning home to the neighbor’s house and the location where Machen was apprehended—will be key as prosecutors prepare to present their case.
As the legal proceedings unfold, attention will remain focused on the findings of the mental evaluation and the robust felony charges against Machen. Investigators and prosecutors continue to piece together the evidence surrounding the incident, including the gasoline assault, the fire, and the woman’s narrow escape from harm.