Brooklyn man who fatally burned his ex hit with 38-years-to-life

A Brooklyn man who savagely killed his ex-girlfriend by tying her to a chair and burning her alive has been sentenced to 38 years to life in prison, the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office has announced.

A judge sentenced Lashawn Duffie, 30, on Wednesday after he pleaded guilty early this month to killing Surgery Ramirez by tying her to a chair inside her Cypress Hills apartment and setting her ablaze on Nov. 11, 2022, according to a statement from the District Attorney’s office.

“This was a calculated and merciless act of domestic violence,” District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said in a statement. “The victim suffered unimaginable terror and pain in her final moments, and today’s sentence ensures the person responsible will spend decades behind bars. We will continue to pursue justice for Brooklyn victims whose lives are cut short by such senseless and horrifying acts.”

A man was rushed to Staten Island University Hospital North after the fire broke out on Avenue M in Brooklyn Thursday. (Theodore Parisienne for New York Daily News)

After accusing Ramirez of destroying his comic books, surveillance video captured Duffie buying a large box of twine, lighter fluid and a lighter at a nearby bodega, according to court documents. Around 4 a.m. Duffie entered Ramirez’s apartment, tied her to a chair with the twine, doused her with lighter fluid and set her aflame, court documents state.

“As he left the victim to burn alive, the defendant was seen on camera discarding a shirt, lighter and documents bearing the victim’s name into a nearby dumpster,” according to the D.A.’s statement.

The Medical Examiner’s Office determined Ramirez died due to severe burns and “homicidal violence.” Cops arrested Duffie in early 2023, about two months after firefighters discovered Ramirez’s body.

https://www.nydailynews.com/2025/05/22/brooklyn-man-who-fatally-burned-his-ex-hit-with-38-years-to-life/