Rianne Theriault-Odom was convicted Thursday of aggravated mayhem and torture after setting another woman on fire in a strip club. The California woman doused Roberta Dos Santos Busby with gasoline before setting her ablaze.

The Los Angeles jury convicted the 28-year-old Theriault-Odom of two counts but acquitted her of attempted murder. The victim is a 28-year-old Mother of two, and the incident took place in February of 2009 at the Tarzana Club.

This story is sad for me, because I have a close friend who was a burn victim as a child. While her mother was holding her in her arms, her father doused her mother with gasoline and set them both on fire. My friend was burned over a large percentage of her body and now has a life filled with surgeries and severe pain. This is one of the most terrible things that one human being can do to another.

Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition. To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.