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Man Who Set Self On Fire, Grabbed Mother Convicted

BALTIMORE (AP) -- A man who set himself on fire and held onto his mother, causing her to suffer fatal burns, has been convicted of manslaughter.

A Baltimore jury also convicted Genesis Collins Jr., 42, of assault and reckless endangerment on Wednesday. He faces a maximum of 40 years in prison at sentencing March 26.

Prosecutors say Collins was distraught because he owed money to drug dealers. Police say on May 5, 2011, he poured rubbing alcohol on his head and set himself on fire using a lighter while in his home.

Authorities say Collins grabbed his mother Audery Collins, and refused to let go. An unidentified person stabbed Collins to force him to release his mother.

Audery Collins died four months later from complications of burns.

(Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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