A jealous husband is set to plead guilty to dousing a Virginia city councilman with gasoline and setting him ablaze in a brutal revenge attack over an affair the lawmaker was having with his wife. Shotsie Michael Buck-Hayes, aged 29, will change his plea to guilty on Thursday, reversing his earlier not guilty plea to charges including attempted first-degree murder, aggravated malicious wounding, and breaking and entering with intent to commit murder, as announced by the Danville City Sheriff.
Details of the Vicious Assault
Police reports indicate that Buck-Hayes, who originally hails from the English county of Devon, admitted to purchasing gasoline at a local station with the explicit aim of killing Danville City Councilman Lee Vogler. On July 30, 2025, he used a lighter to ignite the fuel, engulfing Vogler in flames. At a preliminary hearing in September, a police officer testified that Buck-Hayes confessed to officers, stating he set the person on fire who had an affair with his wife.
Severe Injuries and Recovery
The attack inflicted devastating injuries on Vogler, a father of two, resulting in second and third-degree burns covering 60 percent of his body. His wife, Blair, detailed that he also suffered from burn shock and lung damage due to smoke inhalation. Vogler endured a grueling three-month recovery period before he was able to return to his duties on the city council, according to WDBJ reports.
Witness Accounts and Court Testimony
Three witnesses provided testimony at the September hearing, including an employee from Showcase Magazine where the assault occurred, a police investigator, and Vogler's wife. Stephen Seiple, the magazine employee, described how Buck-Hayes entered the building carrying a bucket, chased Vogler, and poured gasoline over him. Seiple recounted witnessing the actual burning, noting Vogler's screams and the severe wounds visible after his shirt burned away.
Seiple's testimony painted a harrowing picture: he recalled smelling gasoline and seeing Vogler run by, prompting an immediate 911 call. By the time he reached the street, Vogler's chest appeared pink and his arms were severely damaged from the burns.
Background and Arrest
It was later revealed that Buck-Hayes's wife, Mary Alice Buck-Hayes, had filed for divorce just two weeks prior to the incident. The couple had married in 2021, as indicated on her Facebook page. Buck-Hayes emigrated to the United States from his hometown of South Molton, Devon, in 2020. Following the attack, he fled the scene but was apprehended several blocks away after witnesses provided descriptions of him and his vehicle to police.
A trial in this case was originally scheduled to commence on April 20, but with the impending guilty plea, proceedings are expected to shift toward sentencing. This shocking crime underscores the extreme lengths to which personal vendettas can escalate, leaving lasting physical and emotional scars on all involved.
