Man Stabs Wife and Sets Her on Fire in Dickson, Tennessee, Following Argument

A man brutally attacked his wife, stabbing her multiple times before setting her on fire following an argument at their home in Dickson, Tennessee.

When officers and firefighters arrived in response to a fire report, they found a horrifying scene. Heavy smoke was coming from the home, but the immediate concern was a woman at the back door with severe injuries.

According to court documents, 28-year-old Zachary Mowel approached the officers and confessed, "I did it. It was me."

The victim, identified as Mowel's wife, Tessa, had multiple stab wounds to her upper back and chest, with a knife still lodged in her body.

An investigation by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation revealed that Mowel attacked Tessa with a knife, doused her with gasoline, and set the house on fire.

Though no motive was provided, the victim reportedly told police that an argument between her and her husband had escalated into violence.

Mowel was arrested and charged with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated arson, aggravated assault (domestic-related), and domestic assault. He is currently held at the Dickson County Jail with a bond set at $765,000.

Tessa's twin sister, Tori Ila Elizabeth Trotter, launched a GoFundMe campaign to support her recovery. Tessa is being treated at Vanderbilt University Medical Center for severe burns and multiple stab wounds. The GoFundMe page shared more details about the attack, stating that Mowel stabbed Tessa nine times and beat her over 30 times in the face before setting her on fire.

The page also mentioned that their two sons, aged five and eight, witnessed the attack and pleaded with their father to stop. Tessa is now paralyzed from the waist down and faces a long road to recovery.

Local NBC affiliate WSMV interviewed Tessa's mother, Tina Trotter, who shared that they had planned a get-together on the night of the attack. Tina recounted her daughter's words: "Momma, he tried to kill me. He was leaving me to die." She also mentioned that Mowel had put the kids in his truck before setting the house on fire.

Tina praised two passersby who saw the smoke, rushed in to extinguish the fire, and likely saved Tessa's life. She expressed deep gratitude to these good samaritans, saying, “God bless you, and I will reach out to you once my family finds out who you are. Our family is so grateful for y’all because I wouldn’t have her today.”