Arizona Man Brutally Beats Ex-Girlfriend, Sets Her on Fire on Way to Paternity Test

Lifestyle
Paul Johns
February 10, 2025
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7 minutes read

( Image: Phoenix Police Department)

An Arizona man has been sentenced to life in prison for the brutal murder of his ex-girlfriend and abandoning their infant child on the side of the road. Antwaun T. Ware, 30, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and felony child endangerment in a case that has shocked the community.

The tragic incident occurred on March 6, 2018, when Jasmine Rain Dunbar and her 7-month-old child were returning from a paternity test. According to court documents, Ware beat Dunbar to death, set her body on fire, and left their infant on the side of the road near 83rd Avenue and Camelback Road in Phoenix.

Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell praised the efforts of prosecutors and the individuals who rescued the child. “This defendant’s callous actions have no place in our community. Thanks to the hard work of my prosecutors, he will live the rest of his life behind bars,” Mitchell said. “To the people who rescued this baby, I say ‘thank you.’ This child is alive today because of your heroic actions.”

Jasmine Rain Dunbar ( Image: Phoenix Police Department)

The infant was discovered by a couple driving in the area, who noticed the child in a car seat along with Dunbar’s I.D. and other belongings. They immediately called 911, and police responded to the scene. Investigators later traced Ware’s steps, leading them to a field near 107th Avenue and Camelback Road, where Dunbar’s body was found burned.

According to a probable cause statement, Ware and Dunbar were last seen together around 9 p.m. on March 6, heading to a paternity test. The child was found abandoned just an hour later. Police located Ware at his home in the early hours of March 7, where he confessed to the crime, told Law&Crime.

Ware admitted to physically assaulting Dunbar, punching her multiple times, and leaving her in the field. He claimed she was still alive when he drove away with their child. “He said that he panicked and dropped [the child] off in the area because he saw people nearby and believed they would find her and take care of her,” the document stated.

Ware later returned to the scene, where he set Dunbar’s body on fire using gasoline and a cigarette. He told police he watched the fire burn before it extinguished itself. Upon returning to the area where he abandoned the child, Ware saw police vehicles and fled to his then-girlfriend’s home.

Dunbar’s body was discovered shortly after, and Ware was arrested. The case has drawn widespread condemnation, with authorities emphasizing the brutality of the crime.

Antwaun T. Ware ( Image: Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office)

“He put a piece of paper on the body and then poured gasoline on her,” the document detailed. “He then set it afire with a cigarette. He watched as Jasmine burned and the fire put itself out.”

Ware’s life sentence ensures he will never walk free again, bringing a measure of justice for Dunbar and her child. The case serves as a grim reminder of the devastating consequences of domestic violence and the importance of community vigilance.