Suspect charged in woman’s scalding death

A 49-year-old woman accused of throwing boiling water on another during an argument in July was arrested Tuesday on a murder charge, a Las Vegas police report states.

Jackie Wilridge is jailed without bail at the Clark County Detention Center on one count of murder with a deadly weapon.

She is accused of throwing boiling water on Patricia James on July 3 at an apartment at 2287 Concord St., near Martin Luther King Boulevard and Carey Avenue. According to the police report, the women were in the apartment smoking crack cocaine when James started distributing cash to four women present, but not to Wilridge.

While the women argued, Wilridge boiled a pot of water and threw it on James, burning approximately 15 percent of her body, the report said.

Witnesses said Wilridge then fled.

James was taken to University Medical Center and died July 7 of her injuries. Her death was ruled a homicide.

Police interviewed several witnesses who said Wilridge announced she was going to scald James. She boiled water in a pot and poured it on James in the hallway of the apartment, the report said.

When officers interviewed Wilridge, she said she was at the apartment July 3, but that there was no conflict. Wilridge then changed her story and said she wasn't at the residence that day and everyone who provided statements against her were lying.

A warrant for her arrest was issued Friday.

Contact reporter Maggie Lillis at mlillis@ reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0279.