BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. – A 40-year-old man was taken into custody earlier this month after a grave incident where he allegedly tried to set his girlfriend on fire while she was holding one of their children. This occurred following a response by deputies to a report of a domestic disturbance at a residence in Oakland Park around 10 p.m. on May 1.

The victim, who has been in a relationship with Mark Confessore for about five years and shares two children with him, narrated a series of escalating events that started earlier in the day. The initial conflict ignited at a doctor's office following a rude comment by an unidentified person, which angered Confessore. The dispute continued upon their return home around 2:30 p.m., where it intensified after Confessore aggressively threw the victim's plate of food to the ground.

Attempting to defuse the tension, the victim took her children to her eldest son’s room. However, Confessore followed and later erupted in anger when he heard her speaking Russian with the children. Although there was a brief period of calm during dinner, the discord resumed afterwards. The victim was discussing their separation plans with her children in Russian when Confessore, overhearing the conversation, hurled her phone at her, striking her head.

The situation escalated dangerously later in the evening. After seeing the victim smile while breastfeeding, Confessore mockingly inquired about her amusement before threatening to set her on fire. He sprayed her with lighter fluid, targeting her lower body and legs, and attempted to ignite it. An unidentified bystander intervened, preventing him from sparking the lighter and subsequently stopping him from loading a firearm he brandished.

Deputies arrived to find Confessore in the front yard, a firearm placed on the ground nearby, and a lighter in his possession. He now faces several charges, including aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, aggravated domestic assault with a deadly weapon, child abuse without great bodily harm, and battery. He is currently being held at Broward Main Jail, awaiting a determination on his bond. This incident highlights the urgent need for vigilant response and supportive measures for victims of domestic violence.