A SURVIVOR'S STORY:
Agnes J. Bermudez is a 49 year
old woman who was born of Puerto Rican parents in New York City.  Agnes grew up in Brooklyn, New York, where she lived with her parents until she landed her first job as a mail clerk in a Manhattan stock brokerage firm.  She worked her way up in the firm over 20 years to become an senior stock broker in the company.  Agnes is a single woman whose priority has always been to help her mother raise her deceased brother’s children.

On Sunday, June 15, 2008 Agnes was attacked by her boyfriend of 3 ½ years and set on fire in his apartment.   As a result of the attack, she suffered burns over 65 to 70% of her body.  Agnes remained in an induced semi-comatose state for weeks as she endured over 20 surgeries to replace the skin that was completely lost in some parts of her body.  

Several people perished as a result of the fire.  Agnes was arrested in her hospital bed and sent to a correctional facility until a Supreme Court judge granted her bail on condition of house arrest. 

In June 2010, after a jury trial set in New York State Supreme Court for Queens County, Agnes was acquitted of all charges.