TITUSVILLE, FL – A Brevard County woman nearly lost her life after being trapped in a house fire authorities say was deliberately set by her abuser—66-year-old William Clements Jr., a convicted violent felon currently on parole from Tennessee.
On Friday, April 4, 2025, around 5:57 p.m., Brevard County Fire Rescue (BCFR) and the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) responded to a 911 call regarding a residential structure fire with an adult female trapped inside. Firefighters pulled the woman, identified in reports as GM, from the burning home with severe burns to her chest and throat. She struggled to communicate due to her injuries.
While emergency crews worked to contain the blaze, a neighbor identified as Michael L. Deffenbaugh told deputies that GM had named “Billy” as the person who set the fire. “Billy” was later confirmed to be William Clements Jr., who is currently under parole supervision in Florida for prior convictions including False Imprisonment and Aggravated Battery.
Clements has since been taken into custody and is now facing a series of new felony charges.
As the arson investigation unfolded, GM disclosed a harrowing account of abuse that occurred just two months prior. In early February 2025, she says she was awakened at 4 a.m. by Clements straddling her and screaming, “Why do you want me to go to jail?” before violently beating her in the face, knocking out her front tooth.
The report states Clements then zip-tied her hands and confined her to a bedroom for hours, only allowing her to use the restroom while still restrained. The ordeal only ended when Clements began experiencing symptoms of a possible stroke. He drove himself to the hospital and pleaded with GM not to call police.
Later, GM confided in a friend and provided investigators with photographs from February 1–3 showing visible injuries, including bruises and her missing tooth. A sworn statement from the friend corroborated GM’s story.
Detectives concluded Clements willfully and violently assaulted GM, caused permanent damage, and unlawfully restrained her. These acts alone are serious felonies—but setting her home on fire while she was inside elevated the situation to attempted murder.
The arson remains under active investigation by the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit and the Bureau of Fire, Arson & Explosives Criminal Investigation Division
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