British Woman Set on Fire in Barbados Dies

A British woman visiting relatives in Barbados was murdered by an unknown intruder who strangled her, doused her in a flammable liquid, and set her on fire, relatives say. Natalie Crichlow, a 44-year-old London resident, was in the Caribbean country to look after her disabled brother, the BBC reports. Her niece, Ashley Best, says Crichlow suffered burns over 75% of her body in the July 28 attack and died in the hospital almost two weeks later.

"The intruder broke in the house, then strangled her and then set her alight. She went into hospital and died of her injuries," Best says. "I do not understand why it happened and we are all in a state of shock." Deputy Police Commissioner Erwin Boyce says the investigation is at a "sensitive stage" and more updates will be provided soon, reports Barbados Today. Relatives have started a GoFundMe campaign to bring Crichlow's body back to Britain, where her three children live. (More Barbados stories.)