A South Charleston woman horribly burned following a domestic dispute last month died Tuesday in a Huntington hospital as her family looked on.

Starlena Pratt, 28, died about 11:15 p.m. after family members decided to take her off of life support, according to Wanda Carney, a friend who has been helping the family since Pratt was burned Aug. 3.

Kanawha County prosecutor Stephen B. Revercomb said murder charges would be filed against 31-year-old Farley Allen Rhodes in the wake of Pratt's death, though Revercomb hastened to add that Rhodes is innocent until proven guilty.

Police believe Rhodes, Pratt's boyfriend, threw a flammable liquid on Pratt inside the couple's apartment in South Charleston after Pratt told Rhodes she was going to leave him. The resulting fire burned Pratt on most of her body and set the apartment on fire.

Rhodes was initially charged with one count of arson causing serious bodily injury and two counts of first-degree arson. Revercomb said prosecutors intend to pursue first-degree murder charges against Rhodes, carrying a possible life sentence.

Pratt was taken to Cabell Huntington Hospital's burn unit after the blaze, where she underwent numerous surgeries and clung to life. Her condition worsened dramatically during the weekend, Carney said. On Tuesday morning she was unresponsive and on life support, Carney said.

Doctors planned to amputate her arms and legs on Tuesday, but instead family members decided to take her off of life support. Carney said Pratt died a short while later.

Carney said Pratt's mother, Marcia Chandler, had to leave her job at Tudor's Biscuit World to attend to her daughter in the hospital.

"Her mother is a very hard-working person," said the Rev. Matthew Watts, pastor of Grace Bible Church and a friend of Chandler's. Watts said a funeral service will be held for Pratt at Grace Bible Church on Tuesday.

Watts said Pratt's death draws attention to the problem of domestic violence in Kanawha County, which he described as a "pandemic."

In July, 20-year-old Na'lisha Gravely was gunned down inside a West Side Taco Bell while trying to get away from her boyfriend. Desmond Clark, a man with a lengthy criminal record and several domestic violence complaints filed against him, is charged in her slaying.

"This is an issue that will require a community response," Watts said. "We've got to figure out how we can grapple with it and come upon some way to help."

Radio personalities and staff of West Virginia Radio Corp. are hosting a Circle of Hope fundraiser for Pratt's family from 3 to 6 p.m. today at the corporation's Charleston headquarters at 1111 Virginia St. E. Donations may also be made to the Starlena Pratt Fund at any BB&T bank branch.

Reach Rusty Marks at rustyma...@wvgazette.com">rustyma...@wvgazette.com or 348-1215.

A South Charleston woman horribly burned following a domestic dispute last month died Tuesday in a Huntington hospital as her family looked on.

Starlena Pratt, 28, died about 11:15 p.m. after family members decided to take her off of life support, according to Wanda Carney, a friend who has been helping the family since Pratt was burned Aug. 3.

Kanawha County prosecutor Stephen B. Revercomb said murder charges would be filed against 31-year-old Farley Allen Rhodes in the wake of Pratt's death, though Revercomb hastened to add that Rhodes is innocent until proven guilty.

Police believe Rhodes, Pratt's boyfriend, threw a flammable liquid on Pratt inside the couple's apartment in South Charleston after Pratt told Rhodes she was going to leave him. The resulting fire burned Pratt on most of her body and set the apartment on fire.

Rhodes was initially charged with one count of arson causing serious bodily injury and two counts of first-degree arson. Revercomb said prosecutors intend to pursue first-degree murder charges against Rhodes, carrying a possible life sentence.

Pratt was taken to Cabell Huntington Hospital's burn unit after the blaze, where she underwent numerous surgeries and clung to life. Her condition worsened dramatically during the weekend, Carney said. On Tuesday morning she was unresponsive and on life support, Carney said.

Doctors planned to amputate her arms and legs on Tuesday, but instead family members decided to take her off of life support. Carney said Pratt died a short while later.

Carney said Pratt's mother, Marcia Chandler, had to leave her job at Tudor's Biscuit World to attend to her daughter in the hospital.

"Her mother is a very hard-working person," said the Rev. Matthew Watts, pastor of Grace Bible Church and a friend of Chandler's. Watts said a funeral service will be held for Pratt at Grace Bible Church on Tuesday.

Watts said Pratt's death draws attention to the problem of domestic violence in Kanawha County, which he described as a "pandemic."

In July, 20-year-old Na'lisha Gravely was gunned down inside a West Side Taco Bell while trying to get away from her boyfriend. Desmond Clark, a man with a lengthy criminal record and several domestic violence complaints filed against him, is charged in her slaying.

"This is an issue that will require a community response," Watts said. "We've got to figure out how we can grapple with it and come upon some way to help."

Radio personalities and staff of West Virginia Radio Corp. are hosting a Circle of Hope fundraiser for Pratt's family from 3 to 6 p.m. today at the corporation's Charleston headquarters at 1111 Virginia St. E. Donations may also be made to the Starlena Pratt Fund at any BB&T bank branch.

Reach Rusty Marks at rustyma...@wvgazette.com">rustyma...@wvgazette.com or 348-1215.