New Jersey Woman Accused of Faking Story That Boyfriend Set Her on Fire and Left Her to Die in Woods — Now Faces Criminal Charges

A New Jersey woman who was found badly burned in a wooded area and initially claimed her boyfriend had tried to kill her is now facing criminal charges after prosecutors alleged that she fabricated the story. Chelsea Villano, 33, was discovered injured in the Pine Barrens wilderness on October 15, 2026, after a 911 call brought police and emergency medical crews to the scene. Her injuries were real and serious enough to require hospitalization at a specialized burn center. But investigators later concluded that the account she gave about how she was burned—and who was responsible—was not true.

According to prosecutors, Villano initially told authorities that she had gone camping with her boyfriend, Justin D. Martin, 36, and another man in the Colliers Mills area of Plumsted Township. She allegedly claimed that following an argument, one of the men struck her, poured an alcoholic drink over her body and set her on fire before abandoning her in the woods. Villano reportedly managed to reach a nearby worker, who called 911 at approximately 1:36 p.m. Emergency responders found her in distress and suffering from burns. She was taken to Temple University Burn Center in Philadelphia for treatment.

The allegations triggered a serious criminal case against Martin. On October 16, he was charged with attempted murder and aggravated arson and was taken into custody. However, as investigators examined the scene, interviewed witnesses and reviewed medical evidence, major inconsistencies reportedly emerged. Prosecutors said Villano changed parts of her account, including where the alleged fire occurred and which man had attacked her. They also said medical professionals believed her injuries were more consistent with accidental fire blowback than with the intentional attack she had described. A search of Martin’s vehicle reportedly found no evidence of a fire inside.

Investigators further alleged that Villano had identified the second man as her boyfriend and accused him of attacking her, even though prosecutors said she had known him for only about a week. According to the prosecution, she later acknowledged that the man was not her boyfriend and that she had blamed him because she did not want authorities to suspect Martin. The charges against Martin were subsequently dismissed in the interest of justice. The second man has not been charged in connection with the incident.

Villano was arrested on October 23 and charged with two counts of falsely incriminating another person. During a court hearing, prosecutors argued that the investigation showed her statements had misled law enforcement and contributed to the wrongful charges against others. Her defense attorney, however, challenged that interpretation, arguing that Villano had experienced a traumatic event and that inconsistencies in her statements did not necessarily prove she had deliberately lied. The defense also questioned the reliability of statements provided by the two men. Villano was later released under court-imposed conditions, including restrictions on contact with the men and an order to enter substance-abuse treatment.

The case has taken a striking turn from its initial portrayal as a violent attack in the wilderness. A woman who was first treated as a possible victim of attempted murder is now accused of making false allegations that led another person to face serious criminal charges. Still, the charges against Villano remain allegations, and she is entitled to the presumption of innocence as the case proceeds. For investigators, the central question is no longer only how she suffered her burns, but why the account she initially gave allegedly changed—and whether the evidence will ultimately support the charges against her.