Hamilton Co. woman fights for her life

HAMILTON COUNTY, Ind. (WISH) - A Hamilton County woman is in a Tampa Hospital fighting for her life after police say her husband set her on fire.

Doctors didn't think she would survive, but as 24-Hour News 8 learned from the woman's father, she's beating the odds.

Ted Lawhorn of Noblesville said on the night of Aug. 3, his life changed forever.

"I woke up to about 15 text messages and four or five voicemails to call my mom," he said. "I figured I'd have that call one day, but I didn't think it'd be nothing like this."

Lawhorn called his mother and got the grim news.

"She said Megan was in the hospital and that Josh had just lit her on fire," Lawhorn said. 

26-year-old Megan Kimbrough, is Lawhorn's oldest daughter.

She's in critical condition at a Tampa, Fla. hospital with burns to more than 80 percent of her body.

"The only thing that ain't burnt is like from the knees down and very top of her head, basically the hairline up," Lawhorn said.

Polk County, Fla. investigators said Megan's husband, 32-year-old Joshua Kimbrough, doused her with gasoline and then set her on fire. He's facing charges of attempted first-degree murder, arson and false imprisonment.

Video from the crime scene showed the burned red chair Megan was sitting in. Neighbors came to her aid and put out the flames.

Lawhorn said he can't even get up the urge to even be angry at his own son-in-law.

"Why waste that energy. I mean its a waste of energy. I need to put my energy towards my daughter, not towards Josh. He done sealed his fate," he said.

And that energy seems to be working. Tuesday, doctors said Megan's condition is improving. She's now nodding her head, taking commands and wiggling her feet.

"At first they thought the odds were against her," Lawhorn said. 

Lawhorn wants this to be a lesson for others to look for the signs.

"Step in a little bit more, but in, poke your nose in a little bit harder," he said.

More than 2,000 people were following Megan's progress on a Facebook Page her family has set up, as of Tuesday night.

She has has two sons who are now staying with relatives while she is recovering.