A Tennessee woman pleaded guilty to arson after setting her ex-boyfriend's apartment on fire following a text exchange, causing him serious burns.

Taija Russell, 22, pleaded guilty to aggravated arson in Tennessee after setting fire to Curtis Stokes’s apartment in Woodbury when he didn’t respond to texts following a suggestive exchange. She allegedly sent threatening messages, purchased fire-starting materials, and set fire to the sole exit, causing Stokes to suffer first- and second-degree burns and smoke inhalation while escaping through a window. Under a plea deal, prosecutors will recommend an eight-year prison sentence, and charges including attempted murder will be dismissed. Russell is set to be sentenced on January 9, 2026.