A woman who calls herself a “fire goddess” has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after she allegedly set a car alight during a dispute over the prescription drug Xanax, leaving a propane tank and pyrotechnic equipment inside the vehicle to add a deadly dimension to the blaze.
Nicole Najlis, 30, also known by her performance name “Cosmic Nymph”, was taken into custody shortly after midnight on Tuesday following a fire at a truck stop in Hesperia, California. The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said officers were called to reports of vehicles on fire. Najlis was later arrested nearby and charged with attempted murder and arson. Her bail was set at $1 million.
Argument over Xanax escalates into violence
The allegations stem from what began as a road trip back to Las Vegas after a visit to the San Diego area. James Bahr, a professional pyrotechnician who knew Najlis through a mutual friend, said he had been travelling with her and several other people when the journey took a dramatic turn. The group had originally set out to attend a music festival.
According to Bahr, trouble started when Najlis repeatedly asked him for prescription Xanax. He said he refused to hand over the medication, and an argument followed. The dispute allegedly escalated while Bahr was driving, with Najlis punching him in the head, forcing him to pull over at a petrol station. Bahr said he asked her to leave the vehicle but she refused. As he began removing her belongings, he noticed a strong smell of fuel. “As soon as I said, ‘what is that smell?’ she threw a match and lit the car on fire,” Bahr said.
Propane tank explosion and pyrotechnic hazard
The danger inside the vehicle made the incident far more perilous than an ordinary car fire. Bahr, whose profession involves fire effects, had stored propane tanks and equipment used in professional pyrotechnics alongside his belongings. He claims one of the propane tanks exploded approximately 30 seconds after the blaze began. “Had events unfolded slightly differently, the consequences could have been deadly,” Bahr said.
Fortunately, the commotion woke the two passengers who had been asleep inside the vehicle before the flames trapped them. They managed to escape, and no injuries were reported. The fire completely destroyed the vehicle, leaving it a blackened shell. Bahr said he lost tools, equipment, and personal possessions in the blaze. He had bought the vehicle only two weeks earlier and estimates the total damage at roughly $12,000. Without comprehensive insurance, he has since launched a fundraising campaign to help cover the costs.
Suspect’s persona and prior record
The allegations have attracted extra attention because of Najlis’s public persona. Using the name “Cosmic Nymph”, she has built a profile around artistic performances involving fire. Court records show she has previously had encounters with law enforcement involving allegations that include assault, disorderly conduct, and traffic-related offences. Bahr was blunt when asked about the woman now accused of destroying his vehicle, describing her as “a danger to society”.
Najlis is due to appear in court on Thursday.
