The Human Toll of Chicago’s Lax Crime Policies: A Young Woman’s Devastating Experience

In a horrific incident that has shocked the city of Chicago, 26-year-old Bethany MaGee suffered severe burns after being set on fire while riding a CTA Blue Line train. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy identified MaGee as the victim of this brutal attack, which has sparked outrage over Chicago’s approach to repeat offenders. The alleged perpetrator, 50-year-old Marcus Reed, has a staggering record of 72 prior arrests and was out on bond at the time of the assault. Duffy did not mince words in his criticism, stating that “Chicago’s carelessness is putting the American people at risk” and that “no one should ever have to fear for their lives on the subway.” This horrific incident has become a flashpoint in ongoing debates about public safety and criminal justice reform in major cities.

The details of the attack are nothing short of nightmarish. According to federal prosecutors, Reed intentionally targeted MaGee around 9:30 p.m. on a Monday evening as she sat quietly reading her phone. U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros described how Reed approached MaGee from behind, doused her head and body with gasoline, and then attempted to ignite the liquid. In desperate fear, MaGee ran to the back of the train car, but Reed proceeded to ignite the remaining liquid in his bottle and used it to set her on fire. Perhaps most disturbing is the revelation that video evidence allegedly shows Reed watching as MaGee, engulfed in flames, rolled on the floor trying to extinguish the fire, with no immediate help from other passengers. This callous disregard for human life has left many questioning not only the actions of the attacker but also the broader societal response to such violence.

The aftermath of the attack reveals both the severity of MaGee’s condition and the methodical nature of Reed’s actions. When the train stopped at Clark and Lake station, MaGee, still burning, managed to exit before collapsing on the platform. Only then did two bystanders finally come to her aid and extinguish the flames that were “all consuming her,” as Boutros described. MaGee suffered severe burns to her face and body and remains in critical condition. Investigators later obtained photos showing Reed’s premeditation – visiting a gas station approximately 20 minutes before the attack, paying a cashier, and filling a small container with gasoline. Additional images captured Reed inside the train holding a flaming bottle as he approached his victim, before calmly exiting the train and walking away after the assault. This level of calculation has led authorities to charge Reed with committing a terrorist attack or violence against a mass transportation system.

Reed’s behavior during legal proceedings has been as disturbing as the attack itself. During his first federal court appearance, Reed reportedly shouted, “I plead guilty, I plead guilty, I plead guilty.” When U.S. Magistrate Judge Laura McNally asked if he understood that the maximum sentence was life in prison, he responded dismissively, “It’s cool, it’s cool, it’s cool.” ATF Special Agent Chris Amon pointed to Reed’s violent criminal history and pending cases, stating bluntly that Reed “had no business being on the streets.” Amon added, “Reed had plenty of second chances from the criminal justice system, and as a result, you have an innocent victim in the hospital fighting for her life.” While Judge McNally suggested a mental and medical evaluation for Reed, prosecutor Aaron Bond noted that Reed has never been declared mentally incompetent in connection with any of his prior charges, painting a picture of a career criminal who has spent over three decades cycling through the justice system since age 18.

The attack on Bethany MaGee is not an isolated incident in Reed’s criminal history, but rather part of a disturbing pattern of escalating violence. Records show that in April 2020, Reed faced a charge of felony aggravated arson after allegedly starting a fire at the Thompson Center during one of Governor J.B. Pritzker’s COVID-19 briefings. His record also includes multiple misdemeanor battery charges for seemingly random attacks on women, including punching them in the face, as well as slapping a 42-year-old man at a CTA Blue Line platform. Most recently, in August, Reed was charged with aggravated battery for allegedly assaulting a woman at a psychiatric hospital. Despite prosecutors’ requests to keep him detained, he was released with an ankle monitor – a decision that ultimately left him free to commit this latest, most horrific attack on MaGee. This case history raises serious questions about the effectiveness of Chicago’s approach to managing repeat offenders and protecting public safety.

The attack on Bethany MaGee has become a lightning rod in the national conversation about criminal justice policies, with many pointing to this case as evidence of systemic failures. Transportation Secretary Duffy’s statement that “This would never have happened if this thug had been behind bars” reflects a growing frustration with policies that repeatedly return dangerous offenders to the streets. The fact that Reed was free despite his lengthy criminal record has led many to question the balance between second chances and public safety in Chicago’s criminal justice approach. As MaGee continues to fight for her life in the hospital, her tragic case serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of policy decisions. While the swift action of law enforcement has ensured that Reed will face serious consequences for this attack, for Bethany MaGee and those who care about her, this intervention came devastatingly late. Her story stands as a powerful testament to the need for criminal justice policies that effectively protect innocent citizens from those with demonstrated patterns of violence and disregard for human life.