The night before Christmas, a Jacksonville mother says she walked up to her duplex and was hit with an attack that upended her life: a neighbor allegedly poured hot grease on her, leaving her with third‑degree burns across roughly 38% of her body. The injuries led to multiple surgeries at a burn center in Gainesville and have kept her from returning home. Now, her property manager says the unit has been secured and that rent issues could cost her the place, leaving the expectant mom relying on public fundraising as she tries to find a safe spot to heal with her children.
The attack and criminal case
According to Action News Jax, the woman, identified in interviews as Rashanda Coleman, says the assault happened on Dec. 23 as she returned to a duplex on West 8th Street, where a neighbor allegedly poured hot oil on her. The station reports that Coleman was rushed to a burn center in Gainesville and underwent multiple surgeries. Court records cited by the outlet identify the neighbor as Morgan McGrew, who was released on bond, with a judge ordering that she stay at least 155 feet away.
Landlord moves deepen housing crisis
As reported by Action News Jax, the property manager told the station that Coleman's unit "was secured because she stopped paying rent after the attack." The company also said it offered to move her to another property but claims she stopped communicating on Feb. 16. Coleman, for her part, says she has been unable to return because both women are technically tenants in the same duplex. The back‑and‑forth has left her scrambling for stable housing at the exact moment she is recovering from extensive burns and preparing for the arrival of her baby.
Legal options and eviction process
Evictions in Florida must go through county court and landlords cannot legally remove tenants by changing locks or using other "self‑help" tactics, according to Florida Law Help. State legislative records show that over the years lawmakers have considered and passed provisions aimed at protecting tenants who are victims of domestic or dating violence in rental situations, a history reflected in the Florida Legislature's bill files. Tenants who receive an eviction notice can file an answer with the court, and advocates say they should seek immediate legal assistance to find out whether any defenses or protections tied to victim status might apply.
Where to get help and how to help
Coleman's fundraising page, which she or a family member created on GoFundMe, lays out her account of the attack and her plea for help with housing. Survivors who need shelter, legal advocacy or housing support can reach out to the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence or local legal‑aid organizations such as Jacksonville Area Legal Aid for guidance on emergency resources and representation. Local nonprofits and readers who want to help are encouraged to use verified donation channels while the criminal case moves forward in court.
Coleman says the physical and financial fallout from the incident has been overwhelming, and as court dates approach she is left juggling two huge tasks: recovering from devastating burns and securing a new home. Her story highlights how victims of violent incidents can end up fighting on parallel fronts, dealing with medical trauma and housing instability at the same time the justice system slowly grinds along.
