There are quite a few reported cases of SHC, I've included the
more interesting ones here - if you'd like more information on the
other cases I suggest you go to the Anomalies site.
October 1938
Maybelle Andrews was with her boyfriend dancing at a nightclub.
Suddenly flames erupted from her back, chest and shoulders. Her
boyfriend was severely burned trying to put the flames out. He said
that at the time there were no other flames in the room anywhere
and that they had come from Maybelle herself. Maybelle died of her
injuries on the way to hospital
January 31st, 1959
Jack Larber who was a 72 year old patient at the Laguna Honda Home
in San Francisco had his clothing catch fire a few minutes after
being fed. His attendant was out of the room at the time it
happened but attempted to put out the fire when returning back into
the room. Mr. Larber died of 3rd degree burns on February 2nd 1959.
No explanation was found for the fire - Mr Larber was a
non-smoker.
December, 1959
An autoworker by the name of Billy Peterson was found dead in the
front seat of his car in Pontiac, Michigan. At first it appeared
that Peterson had attempted suicide for the exhaust pipe had been
bent to lead into the car's front seat. However Peterson's body had
third-degree burns on his back, legs and arms, his flesh was
severely burnt but neither his clothing or the front seat were
damaged. It was also noted that hairs on the charred portions of
the body were not even singed. On the death certificate the cause
was noted as carbon monoxide poisoning but the burns were
ignored
December 1966
92 year old Dr. Joh Irving Bentley was last seen alive on the
evening of December 4th, 1966 by friends visiting to say goodnight
at about 9.00pm. The following morning Mr. Gosnell, a meter reader
let himself into Mr Bentley's house to go to the basement to check
the meter. Mr Gosnell had permission to enter Mr. Bentley's house
because Mr Bentley had limited mobility and could only move about
with the help of a walker. Once in the basement Mr Gosnell could
smell a strange smell and then could see a light blue smoke.
Worried, he went upstairs to investigate. Mr. Bentley's bedroom was
filled with smoke and in the bathroom there lay the charred remains
of Mr. Bentley. All that was left of the old man was the lower half
of his right leg with his slipper still on it. The rubber stoppers
on his walker which lay beside his remains were still intact and
the bathtub was hardly scorched. Gosnell ran for help. It was first
thought that Mr. Bentley set himself on fire with his pipe, but it
was soon discovered that his pipe was still on it's stand by the
bed in his bedroom. The coroner noted his death was caused by
asphyxiation and 90% burning of the body.
remains of Dr. Bentley
January 6th, 1980
Blackwood, Ebbw Vales, Wales - the police and forensic officers
discovered a mans body burnt beyond recognition in his living room.
The armchair that he was sitting in had hardly been damaged along
with some nearby plastic objects. The fire that had killed the man
had been so intense that it left a coating of vaporized flesh on
the ceiling
October 1980
An airwoman by the name of Jenna Winchester burst into flames
whilst sitting in a car next to a friend in Florida. Her friend saw
yellow flames coming from Jenna and heard her scream "Get me out of
here!" and saw her trying to beat out the flames with her bare
hands. The car crashed into a telephone pole. Jenna survived the
experience with 20% of her body covered in burns
24th March, 1997
Co Kerry, Irish Republic. 76 year old John O'Connor was found dead
in his living room at Gortaleen by the community nurse who
regularly visited him. Mr O'Connors charred remains were in a chair
positioned some distance from his hearth. Only his head and upper
torso along with his feet remained unburnt. There was little smoke
damage to the room or furniture. The Local priest who attended the
scene described it as "if somebody had poured petrol into his
lap".
