A 43-year-old man in Illinois, Daniel N. Pace, has been sentenced to 60 years in prison for the horrific attack on his ex-girlfriend, where he doused her in vodka and set her on fire, causing severe burns to nearly one-third of her body.
The sentence, handed down by Tenth Circuit Judge Stephen A. Kouri on Wednesday, follows a jury’s guilty verdict in May. Pace was convicted on charges of aggravated battery and aggravated domestic battery after the court determined he acted with exceptionally brutal and heinous behavior.
The brutal assault took place on August 19, 2022, at the Landmark Apartment Complex in Peoria, Illinois. After an argument with the victim, Pace poured vodka over her and, in a chilling act of violence, flicked a lighter twice, setting her ablaze. The victim suffered third-degree burns on 19% of her skin, leaving her with permanent injuries.
According to Peoria County prosecutors, the victim’s life has been permanently altered by the attack, stating that she has lost two jobs and may never be able to work again due to her injuries. She continues to suffer daily pain and has experienced immense emotional, mental, and financial distress.
The court heard a powerful victim impact statement during sentencing, where the victim described her ongoing struggles, including the difficulty in trusting others after such a traumatic experience.
During sentencing, Judge Kouri was blunt in his remarks, calling Pace an “incredibly violent person” and adding that society needed a “break from you”. He also expressed disbelief at the extent of Pace’s cruelty.
Pace, who has a history of abusive relationships dating back to the early 2000s, tried to argue that the victim’s injuries were the result of an accident during their drug use. He also interrupted the judge, claiming he often got “the bad end of the stick” in the relationship.
Prosecutors presented further evidence of Pace’s violent history, detailing how he hospitalized the victim monthly and kept her locked in the apartment for four days after the attack, denying her medical care.
Under Illinois’ Truth in Sentencing laws, Pace will be required to serve at least 85% of his sentence. The sentence aims to ensure that Pace is removed from society for a significant portion of his life, as the judge emphasized the need for society to be protected from his violence.
