Geana's story was featured on KTAB

After five years, an Abilene women who was set of fire by her boyfriend is telling her story to the public. Gena McLendon will be sharing her story of survival with local victims of violence at an event to benefit the Crime Victims Crisis Center.

McLendon was set on fire by her ex-boyfriend in her North Abilene home, in front of her 6 year old son. Although years have passed, scars remain to remind her of her tragedy.

Yet, she does not want to forget her story; she wants to share it.


In 2005 she broke up with her boyfriend, who then took out his anger over the break up on Gena in an unimaginable way. He poured gas on her, and lit her on fire.

Her son was at home with her, she says all she could think while she was on fire was how to get her son out of the house.

Shannon Lopez was arrested in a South Abilene home a few hours later and also had burns from the incident. He is in prison and Gena now says she has a mission...to share her story and encourage other victims of violence.

She will be speaking at Stop the Violence 2010. More information can be found at startthelove.com.