Francine Hughes, a mother of four, set fire to her Michigan home in 1977, killing her ex-husband after enduring thirteen years of relentless abuse. The case gained national attention and became a pivotal moment in raising awareness about domestic violence and the legal challenges survivors face.

 

Research by Elizabeth Atwood. 

 

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Sources:

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2. Francine Hughes Wilson, whose ‘burning bed’..., The Washington Post

3. Grimes, William, Francine Hughes Wilson, 69, ...,, The New York Times, 2017

4. White, Otis, Mrs. Hughes accused of affair, Lansing State Journal, 1977

5. McNulty, Faith Battered wife…(Excerpt from The Burning Bed), Edmonton Journal, 1981

6. Hughes, Mike, Nichols, Sue, The tale behind 'The Burning Bed' .., The San Bernardino County Sun, 1984 

7. Nixon, Mark, Former wife arrested in arson death, Lansing State Journal, 1977 

8. Woman arraigned for ex-husband's death, Lansing State Journal, 1977 

9. Heron, Kim, Abused Dansville woman helped...,, Lansing State Journal, 1977

10. Leach, Hugh, Mrs. Hughes bound over to trial, Lansing State Journal, 1977

11. Killer of ex-husband awaits trial, The Columbus Telegram, 1977

12. White, Otis, Mrs. Hughes' children tell of beatings, threats, Lansing State Journal, 1977

13. AP, 2d Man in fire death trial, Detroit Free Press

14. White, Otis, Mrs. Hughes called temporarily insane, Lansing State Journal, 1977

15. Michigan woman’s story of abuse forever changed America’s…, Michigan Public, 2017

16. Jones, Jennifer, Chapter 4. Totaled Women: The Battered Wife…, Project Muse, 2003

17. State v. Kelly, 33 Wn. App. 541 | Casetext, 1982

18. State v. Kelly - Washington - Case Law , 1985

19. Weiand v. State, 732 So. 2d 1044 | Casetext, 1999

20. State v. Bobbitt, 415 So. 2d 724 | Casetext, 1982

21. State v. Bobbitt, 389 So. 2d 1094 | Casetext, 1980

22. Carleton, Sue, Battered spouse case is closed, Tampa Bay Times, 1999

23. Blakemore, Erin, Francine Hughes Killed Her Abusive Husband…, History, 2019

24. Transcript: The Domestic Violence Case That Turned…, Retro Report, 2020

25. Fletcher, Kayla, National Domestic Violence…,Stockbridge Community News, 2020

26. Dozier, Vickki, Abused Michigan wife who inspired 'The Burn…, Detroit Free Press, 2017

27. White, Otis, Childhood incident caused Francine..., Lansing State Journal, 1977

28. Maitland, Leslie, Courts easy on rising family violence, The New York Times, 1976

29. Franks, Mary Anne, Real Men Advance, Real Women Retreat: Stand Your Ground, Battered Women’s Syndrome, and Violence as Male Privilege, Miami Law Review, 2014

30. Flock, Elizabeth, How Far Can Abused Women Go to Protect…,, The New Yorker, 2020

31. White, Otis, Francine Hughes’ case nears jurors, Lansing State Journal, 1977

32. White, Otis, Jury frees Mrs. Hughs, Lansing State Journal, 1977

33. Van Der Hayden, Ute, Francine Hughes is no longer a battered wife, News-Press, 1980

34. Diliberto, Gioia, A violent death, a haunted life, People, 1984

35. Simmons, Emma, Police: Woman fatally shot boyfriend during argument…, ABC, 2017