The Fire That Took Her

Once again, I am here to remind myself where the real horror lies: in real life. Patricia Gillespie's, devastating 2022 documentary "The Fire That Took Her" tells a horrifying story that would be unbearable if it were not real.

This is the story of Judy Malinowski, an Ohio woman set on fire by her boyfriend, Michael Slager - a man whose cruelty knew no bounds.

Unlike many true-crime documentaries that thrive on sensationalism, "The Fire That Took Her" strips away the gloss and exposes the brutal realities of domestic violence, trauma, addiction, and the systemic failures that often leave victims unheard.

The horror here is not just in the crime itself but in the slow, insidious ways in which abuse tightens its grip long before it turns deadly.

Miraculously, Judy survived for nearly two years after the attack, enduring unimaginable pain: seven months in a coma, over 60 surgeries, and burns covering 80% of her body. From her hospital bed, she connected with other survivors, advocated for change, and ultimately did something unprecedented - she testified in her own murder trial.

What makes this documentary particularly disturbing is not just the physical brutality of what happened to Judy but the way abuse operates as a methodical erosion of autonomy.

Toxic relationships rarely begin with overt violence. They start with control - manipulating vulnerabilities, isolating victims, and, in Judy's case, weaponizing her past struggles with addiction.

Michael Slager did not just harm her physically; he engineered a dynamic of control that began long before the attack. Judy had first been prescribed opioids following ovarian cancer surgery, and Slager used her dependency as leverage - fueling her addiction while driving a wedge between her and her family.

This is one of the film's most unsettling revelations: before Slager poured gasoline on Judy's body, he had already lit a different kind of fire - one that burned through her support system, her independence, and her sense of self.

The documentary does not shy away from these uncomfortable realities. It presents raw, unfiltered images of Judy's suffering but never reduces her to just a victim. Even in her most fragile state, she was a fighter, a woman determined to have her story heard.

The legal battle surrounding her testimony is one of the film's most compelling aspects. Initially, prosecutors resisted allowing her to testify, arguing that her medication could affect her credibility. This moment encapsulates the system's deep flaws, even in the face of undeniable suffering, procedural scepticism can overshadow human truth.

Judy's story is heartbreaking, and while the documentary captures her resilience and tragic fate, it does leave certain aspects of her life underexplored. We see glimpses of her past, her struggles, and the woman she was before the abuse, but the focus remains tightly on her post-attack journey.

While this keeps the narrative urgent, a deeper dive into her earlier life and personal history could have provided an even fuller picture of who she was beyond her trauma.

Beyond Judy's case "The Fire That Took Her," speaks to larger systemic issues: the failures of the justice system, the cyclical nature of domestic violence, and the devastating reach of America's opioid crisis.

Having spent time in the U. S., I have never seen so many public service ads about opioid addiction, and this documentary makes it painfully clear why. These drugs are handed out easily, yet the consequences are often irreversible.

Ultimately, The Fire That Took Her is a film about justice - both the kind that is served and the kind that remains disturbingly absent. It is about a woman who, despite being physically silenced, forced the world to listen. And it is about a legal system that, while ultimately convicting her killer, repeatedly hesitated to protect her when it mattered most.

This is a documentary that lingers, that unsettles, and that forces us to confront the true horror of domestic violence - not just in its most extreme moments but in the slow, methodical ways it takes hold long before the first act of physical violence.

Thank you, Judy, for being so strong and courageous to fight for the justice that YOU and so many other victims of domestic abuse and violence deserve! I have no doubt you're a guardian angel diligently working from above! YOU are a hero to so many!

This movie is by far the BEST depiction of the horrors of domestic abuse! It is a truly raw account of how it affects not only the victim, but also all the friends and families involved. I hope and pray that Judy's life will continue to help shape laws and the justice system by being more proactive to the calls for help from the victims of domestic abuse.

The family have mixed feelings about the death penalty, but the Holy Bible is clear on the matter. One's life is to be forfeited when a life is deliberately taken. Long drawn out appeals, and the for-profit, Corporate penal institutions do not help stem the tide of ever increasing murder. Many Jews, Christians, Muslims, and folk of other faiths believe in an-eye-for-an-eye.

I am not the only one that notices a general disdain for authority, and no fear for the one true God of all creation. When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan." Proverbs 29:2.

This was absolutely heartbreaking and horrific to watch- do NOT let anyone under the age of at least 16 watch this, it's truly nightmare fuel and they're not old enough to understand the complexity of the case(s).

I'm glad that justice finally arrived and he is sitting exactly where he belongs- my feelings on th death penalty are irrelevant, but Judy wanted him to suffer in prison for life so that's what happened. It's truly disgusting that he couldn't admit the truth of his actions and for once be a man.

All that being said, there are a few major issues needing more attention- domestic violence and drug addiction. Those who are victims are usually a product of raising that also involved the affliction(s) but not always. Learning the cues immediately is paramount to saving victims. Perps will prey upon those with low esteem and start by love-bombing- showering victims with more love and attention than they have ever known and spend a lot of time on what looks like support but is anything but. It takes almost no time to make victims reliant on them for support and what they think is love. The gaslighting is overwhelming and before anyone realizes it, the victim is buying into the lies and feels cared for and loved. They'll alienate them from loved ones and:or friends. Stay close to anyone you suspect is a victim and softly support, maintain contact and love them.

As far as addiction-how tragic is it that Judy became a victim due to cancer? We must do more for addicts; drug courts are working mostly, but we need better recovery services for those who struggle repeatedly. And not just for the addicts, but the families of addicts to give them support from something other than just AA/NA/etc., that is clearly not enough and legislation needs to change if we hope to make even a dent in the problem.

I'm so sorry to this wonderful family and I sincerely hope Judy's children and family have sought therapy to help them heal these deep wounds and find their hope again.

I was reluctant to watch the documentary being a previous victim of domestic abuse. I was able to get away from my abuser physically unharmed but not mentally. The reoccurring nightmares of him finding and trying to kill me lasted for the three years before slowly subsiding. However I have not been in a relationship since for nearly 20 years now. I didn't understand why. I thought it was my distrust of men but it was fear. A phobic fear of attracting a predator again. Once you come under their radar there is no escape. My only sense of safety is to be alone. I know all to well the fear and desperation Judy felt. She probably knew deep in her soul she wasn't going to get out of it in one piece. Very few women that fall prey to these vicious predators do. Judy shows the strength women have to survive the onslaught of the worst abuse imaginable. All the women in the Malinowski family are strong, loving heros. It's a hard thing to watch but it demonstrates endurance by love.