Army officer set on fire by former hospital employee identified

A hospital worker at Fort Leavenworth’s Munson Army Health Center attacked his supervisor and set her on fire last week.

Several witnesses say 54-year-old Clifford Currie assaulted his boss, 1^st Lt. Katie Ann Blanchard, in her office, on Wednesday Sept 7th.

Blanchard suffered severe injuries and “substantial burns” in the brutal attack. According to an FBI report, the first witness on scene responded to a “loud screaming-like noise in Blanchard’s office and found Blanchard on fire from the chest up.”

The report also indicated that Currie was armed with scissors and a straight-edged razor, as he attacked Blanchard, while his foot was on her throat.

Blanchard said Currie put his foot on the her neck and tried to stab her.

Two men were able to subdued Currie while a doctor and other employees tended to the victim.

At one point, a responding firefighter reportedly yelled that the incident may have involved a chemical burn.

But Currie allegedly said, “It’s gasoline, you idiot,” according to the criminal complaint.

Kansas City reports that Blanchard had previously expressed “discomfort” with Currie and always wanted someone with her when she counseled him.  As Blanchard was being subdued by Currie during the attack, she reportedly screamed: “I told you this would happen.”

Currie had been an employee at Munson since 2012 and worked as the Assistant Exceptional Family Member Program Coordinator, the Times reported.

Both of Blanchard’s parents served in the Army and her husband is currently an Army officer, according to her Facebook page.

Military police arrested Currie and found a box of matches in his pocket, according to the documents.

He has been charged in U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Kan., with assault with the intent to commit murder.

Currie made his initial court appearance Thursday and was ordered detained pending a court appearance on Monday to determine if he will be held without bond while the case is pending.

If convicted, Currie could face 20 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000, according to the news release from the office of Acting U.S. Attorney Tom Beall.