FBI Says Problem Worker Set Boss on Fire

LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (CN) — A Fort Leavenworth hospital employee known for being "resistant to supervision" allegedly doused his boss with gasoline Wednesday, set her on fire and attacked her with a straight-edge razor.

Clifford Currie, 54, of Leavenworth, was federally charged Thursday with assault with intent to commit murder.

An FBI agent described the attack in a 6-page criminal complaint. He said Currie assaulted his supervisor, Katie Ann Blanchard, with "an unknown inflammable accelerant and a straight-edge razor blade."

Currie is a civilian employee at the Munson Army Health Center in Fort Leavenworth, about 40 miles west of Kansas City.

His boss, Blanchard "always wanted another employee with her" when she had to deal with Currie, who was "resistant to supervision," FBI Agent J.C. Bauer wrote. As three other employees pulled Currie off Blanchard, a fourth worker, a military employee, heard Blanchard say, "I told you this would happen," Bauer wrote in the complaint.

Hospital worker Diane Kilian told Bauer that she rushed to Blanchard's aid when she heard "a loud, odd noise, sort of like screaming" coming from the office. She found Blanchard "on fire from the chest up."

Currie was standing in Blanchard's office with his back to Kilian, who smelled a "strong odor of gasoline or something similar to it." Currie had "his foot on Blanchard's throat and was trying to stab her," Kilian said.

Dr. Adela Ganacias showed up and saw Blanchard's "face, head and body" aflame, and as she tried to douse the flames, Currie hit Blanchard with his fist. Currie then left the room and returned with scissors and "struck Blanchard with scissors," Ganacias told Bauer.

By the time two military employees restrained Currie, Blanchard's face was "covered in blood."

When a fireman appeared in the hallway and said the fire could be "a chemical burn," a witness heard Currie say, "It's gasoline, you idiot," according to the complaint.

Currie told the arresting officers he needed psychiatric help and asked to speak with an attorney.

Blanchard told one of her rescuers, "It's not OK. He needs to be in jail."

If convicted, Currie could be sentenced to 20 years in prison and fined up to $250,000.

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