Judy Malinowski, a 31-year-old young mother, miraculously survived after being set on fire by her boyfriend. Her two-year fight for justice, both for herself and other victims, became a testament to her strength and resilience.
On August 2, 2015, Judy Malinowski fell victim to a horrific act of violence when her on-and-off boyfriend, Michael Slager, poured petrol on her during an argument outside a gas station in Gahanna, Ohio.
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With cruel intent, he set her ablaze, witnessing the flames consume her.
After being in a coma for eight months, Judy Malinowski, a mother of two, regained consciousness only to endure excruciating pain. Her dressings had to be changed twice a day, causing immense suffering.
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Her body was ravaged by burns covering 95 percent of her entire being. Tragically, nearly two years later, on June 27, 2017, she succumbed to her injuries.
In 2016, Slager, the perpetrator, reached a plea deal where his lawyers entered an Alford plea. This legal maneuver allowed him to maintain his innocence while acknowledging that sufficient evidence existed for a potential conviction.
Security camera footage captured the harrowing attack, including the moment when Slager retrieved a cigarette lighter from his truck.
For the charge, Slager received an 11-year prison sentence. Bonnie Bowes, Malinowski's mother, revealed in an interview with Insider that Slager's intention was to "silence" her daughter, preventing her from publicly sharing her story.
Knowing she was nearly dying, Judy Malinowski was determined to prove that her ex-boyfriend could be charged with murder.
Her mother, Bonnie Bowes, shared that Judy was resolute in her decision to testify and demonstrate that Michael had deliberately harmed her.
Despite her critical condition, Judy recorded a deposition from her hospital bed, where she answered questions from the prosecution and faced cross-examination by the defense.
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In an effort to appear more credible, she even chose to reduce her pain medication.
According to Malinowski's testimony, her boyfriend as he poured gasoline over her body, “See what I’ll do to you, bitch.”
Malinowski recounted how Slager approached her while she was in a state of distress, tearfully pleading for assistance. She vividly remembered the horrifying instant when he 'set her on fire'.
She testified: “After I was set on fire, he backed away, and his eyes just turned black.”
According to Malinowski's mother, she expressed her disapproval of Slager when they were introduced in January 2015.
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At that time, Malinowski had recently triumphed over opioid addiction, and her mother held reservations about her daughter's new boyfriend, suspecting his intentions were not genuine.
Characterizing the relationship as "toxic," Bowes, revealed that Slager subjected her daughter to physical violence. Despite Malinowski's repeated calls to the police for assistance, she never pressed charges against him.
Malinowski's younger daughter helps John Kasich, the governor of Ohio at the time, sign "Judy's Law" in 2017, shortly before her mother died.
After Malinowski's passing, her family established a nonprofit organization called Judy's Foundation. Its mission is to advocate for changes in federal laws regarding domestic violence.
In 2017, Ohio enacted "Judy's Law" to protect individuals affected by domestic violence, representing Malinowski's enduring legacy.
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During Slager's sentencing hearing in July 2018, a recording of Malinowski's deposition was played. This occurred more than a year after her tragic passing. In a last-minute decision, Slager changed his plea from not guilty to guilty of aggravated murder.
Despite the potential for a death penalty sentence, Malinowski, asked for leniency.
As a result, he received a life sentence without the possibility of parole.
"Judy had forgiven him, and it was rightfully her decision," Bowes told Insider. "I know that she was hoping that he would somehow find God or figure out his way out of the darkness."
The compelling story of Malinowski is captured in the documentary titled "The Fire That Took Her". This documentary delves into her life and the tragic events she endured.
In the documentary, Malinowski confronted Slager in court, “You really do seem like one of those people that have no soul, and you need to be incarcerated. That’s all I have to say.”
The nurse, astounded by Judy's resilience, described it as a “miracle that she survived with her spirit intact and her will to help other people intact.”
Her sister, Danielle Gorman, says in the documentary, “There was this part of her that wanted to make it and to live to fight for every other woman that had been through something like that.”
She definitely wanted the law to change. And she was willing to do whatever she needed to do to help change the law.”
