Broward deputies said the woman escaped with third-degree burns after a fire in an Oakland Park 7-Eleven parking lot.
OAKLAND PARK, FL — An 84-year-old Fort Lauderdale man is accused of setting fire to a car with his former partner inside Friday at an Oakland Park convenience store, leaving both people hospitalized with burn injuries, Broward Sheriff’s Office investigators said.
Franklin Davis faces charges of premeditated attempted murder, arson causing bodily harm and criminal attempt, solicitation or conspiracy to commit a capital felony. A Broward judge denied him bond after he appeared in court Monday in a wheelchair. The case centers on a July 3 fire outside a 7-Eleven at 3100 NW Ninth Ave., where deputies said an argument turned violent inside a parked vehicle.
Davis and the woman had been in a relationship for 42 years before they recently separated, according to investigators. Deputies said the two were arguing in the parking lot when Davis took out a plastic bottle containing gasoline. The woman told deputies Davis poured the fuel across the dashboard and front seats while she sat in the rear driver’s side seat. Investigators said Davis then used a lighter to ignite the gasoline, causing the inside of the vehicle to burst into flames within seconds. The woman escaped, but she suffered third-degree burns to her left leg. Davis also was burned on his hands and face. The woman told deputies she believed Davis intended to “burn her up” inside the vehicle.
Surveillance video from the store captured the fire and matched the woman’s account, according to the arrest affidavit. Investigators said the footage showed Davis entering the vehicle, splashing gasoline across the front of the car and lighting it. The flames spread quickly through the interior. The woman got out of the car and briefly returned to retrieve belongings before moving away from the burning vehicle, investigators said. Both Davis and the woman were first taken to Broward General Hospital. They were later transferred to Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami because of the seriousness of their burns. Officials have not released the woman’s name, and her updated condition was not immediately clear.
The fire happened in a busy commercial area of Oakland Park, north of Fort Lauderdale, at a gas station and convenience store along Northwest Ninth Avenue. Deputies said Davis was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident. The case has drawn attention because of the couple’s long relationship, their recent breakup and the public nature of the alleged attack. The arrest affidavit said the two had spent part of July 3 together before the argument escalated. Investigators have not said what specifically led to the dispute in the parking lot, and they have not released additional details about the vehicle or whether anyone else was nearby when the fire started.
Davis was taken into custody after receiving medical treatment and was booked into the Broward County Main Jail in Fort Lauderdale. Court records show he was ordered held without bond. During Monday’s hearing, Davis asked the judge about the timing of his next court appearance after bond was denied. The Broward Public Defender’s Office has asked to withdraw from the case because it previously represented the woman in an unrelated matter, according to court records reported in the case. Davis’ next court date is scheduled for July 14. It was not immediately clear whether he had an attorney who could speak for him.
Images from Davis’ court appearance showed him seated in a wheelchair with visible injuries and bandaging after the fire. Deputies said the woman’s most serious injury was to her left leg, while Davis suffered burns to his face and hands. The 7-Eleven parking lot showed signs of damage after the blaze, including charring where the vehicle burned. Investigators have not said whether the car was destroyed or whether fire rescue crews recovered the gasoline container or lighter described in the affidavit. The charges accuse Davis of acting intentionally, but he has not entered a plea. The allegations will be tested in Broward court as prosecutors review the evidence and medical records.
Davis remained jailed Wednesday as the criminal case moved forward. The next major step is his scheduled July 14 court appearance, when questions about representation, bond status and further proceedings are expected to continue.
Author note: Last updated July 8, 2026.