My evil ex set me on fire & threw our girls out into the snow – my babies will never hear my voice again
SITTING in the stylist’s chair, Savannah Bailey admired her new hair do in the mirror.
It was Valentine’s Day and after a rocky relationship with her partner of six years Javaunte Jefferson, the 27-year-old was looking forward to dressing up for their romantic date.
She had no idea that her trip to the salon would cause her to be left scarred for life and unable to speak ever again.
Savannah, from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, who has two children with Jefferson, 30, got into an argument with her partner over the cost of her hair appointment.
She woke up to find him pouring gasoline over her before setting her alight in front of their two children.
Their two young girls watched in horror as the mum ran around the house engulfed in flames. Their dad then dumped them in the snow outside and fled the scene.
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By some miracle, Savannah, who suffered horrific burns, survived the ordeal but her entire body is scarred for life and she can no longer speak due to the damage caused to her airways.
Savannah, who has been left unable to work since the attack, says: “Every Valentine’s Day will be a horrible reminder of the day Javaunte set me on fire.
“Now, I still can’t talk, and I’ll sadly never look the same. But I stay strong for my girls.”
In 2014, Savannah met, Jefferson, who was unemployed, on dating site, Plenty of Fish.
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She recalls a 'sweet and loving man' who made her feel special and soon they fell in love.
In 2016, after two years together, they had their first daughter, Cerenity Bailey, now eight.
But the birth of their first child triggered a very different side to Jefferson's personality.
Savannah says: “Days after I gave birth, Javaunte suddenly became nasty. He started calling me a bitch and that I was worthless.
“From then on, he verbally tormented me every day.
“Sobbing, I’d always break up with him but he’d apologise and promise it wouldn’t happen again.
“But the next day, he’d do it again - it was a vicious cycle.”
The next year, Savannah and Jefferson had another daughter, Cemaya Jefferson, now five.
Savannah says: “I was juggling looking after the girls, studying early childhood education and working at a fast-food restaurant.
“While Javaunte barely helped and didn’t contribute financially. Yet, for some reason, he always bullied me about spending money.
“He slapped me once and I never looked at him the same but he’d always cry and apologise after.”
For the next few years, Savannah constantly tried to end their relationship, but Jefferson won her back each time.
Time passed and in February 2020, Valentine’s Day was approaching and with their relationship in a stable place they planned a romantic day out.
Savannah says: “The day before, my mum paid for me to get my hair done.
“I wanted to look good for our date the next day, so I gratefully accepted.
“But that afternoon, while I was at the hairdressers, Javaunte called me screaming. He said I was wasting money on my hair when I hadn’t even paid my taxes yet.
“My blood boiled.
“After arguing back and forth, I warned him that he needed to change or we were done.”
Furious, Savannah hung up and that night back at home as she put the girls to bed, Jefferson was nowhere to be seen.
Savannah went to sleep but hours later, on Valentine’s Day morning, she woke to Jefferson stood over her, clutching a container of gasoline.
Savannah says: “He poured it all over my body, then he lit a match and threw it on me.
I felt my skin melting onto the floor...I couldn’t believe my babies were going to watch me burn alive.
Savannah Bailey
“My entire body became engulfed in flames.
“Howling, I leapt up and ran around the room while Javaunte watched me burn, with a dead look in his eyes.
“I knew I was going to die.
“Soon the girls woke up and saw me on fire too. They were hysterical.
“I couldn’t believe my babies were going to watch me burn alive.”
To Savannah’s horror, Jefferson picked up both girls, who were only in diapers, and dumped them outside in the freezing snow.
Jefferson came back into the house, blocked the front door with the sofa, then he fled out the back.
Savannah says: “Still running around, I felt my skin melting onto the floor.
“I finally managed to escape out the back then I jumped into the snow and put myself out. It was excruciating.
“With all my might, I ran around the house to get the girls. They were sobbing, but they were unharmed.”
Neighbours called for help and minutes later, Savannah was blue-lighted to Ascension Columbia St. Mary's Hospital, Milwaukee.
Once there, she blacked out and was put into a medically induced coma.
How you can get help
Women's Aid has this advice for victims and their families:
- Always keep your phone nearby.
- Get in touch with charities for help, including the Women’s Aid live chat helpline and services such as SupportLine.
- If you are in danger, call 999.
- Familiarise yourself with the Silent Solution, reporting abuse without speaking down the phone, instead dialing “55”.
- Always keep some money on you, including change for a pay phone or bus fare.
- If you suspect your partner is about to attack you, try to go to a lower-risk area of the house – for example, where there is a way out and access to a telephone.
- Avoid the kitchen and garage, where there are likely to be knives or other weapons. Avoid rooms where you might become trapped, such as the bathroom, or where you might be shut into a cupboard or other small space.
If you are a victim of domestic abuse, SupportLine is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6pm to 8pm on 01708 765200. The charity’s email support service is open weekdays and weekends during the crisis – [email protected].
Women’s Aid provides a - available weekdays from 8am-6pm and weekends 10am-6pm.
You can also call the freephone 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.
That same day, Jefferson texted Savannah saying: ‘Since you love to always waste money on hair and get a relationships on me hoe. I guess I love too hard. You’ve disrespected me for the last time (sic)’
Afterwards, he posted the screenshot to Facebook which led police to his location where he was arrested.
Meanwhile, surgeons and doctors warned Savannah’s family that she wouldn't survive because of her injuries, but by miracle, she pulled through.
She had suffered third-degree burns to 60% of her body and underwent over 15 surgeries and multiple skin grafts.
Three months later, in May 2020, Savannah woke up from the coma.
She says: “I was burned so badly from head to toe, I looked like a completely different person. I was devastated.
“I also couldn’t speak because my airways had been so badly damaged.
“Surgeons fought to fix my throat but they couldn’t. My voice would never return.
A monster
“I couldn’t believe Javaunte had done this. Especially on the most romantic day of the year.
“He was a monster.”
After that, Savannah had intense physical rehab and in September 2020, after eight months in hospital, she was discharged.
She moved into her mum’s, who became her caregiver, while also helping with Savannah’s girls.
Still without a voice, Savannah had to type on her phone to communicate with her daughters and family.
In March 2021, Javaunte Jefferson, now 30, of Milwaukee, was found guilty of attempted murder and arson at Milwaukee County Court.
He was sentenced to 50 years in prison.
Savannah says: “In court, Javaunte turned to apologise to me, but I looked away.
“It was fake for the jury. He had no remorse.
“I learned in court how the police had asked Cerenity what happened that day and she’d replied ‘My daddy did it.’
“I was heartbroken at how much she and her sister had seen.
“Now, I’m still trying to adapt to my new face and body. I still can’t speak either so it’s very hard."
Savannah is urging other victim's of domestic abuse to seek help.
“Please, if you experience any abuse at home, leave before something like this happens to you too," she says.
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“I still don’t know why Javaunte did this but I’m relieved he’s in prison.
“He watched me burn, now it’s my turn to watch him burn.”
