A Homestead man who suffered excruciating burns over 70 percent of his body in a brutal attack two years ago outside a bar in Marathon is speaking about his ordeal for the first time.
Jose Gonzalez has never watched the video from his July 2013 attack. He says he never wants to.
That night, police say Gonzalez was parked in his work truck outside of JJ Doghouse Bar in Marathon. His coworkers went inside, while he stayed in his truck to rest.
According to Gonzalez' attorney, Jason Brenner, a man named Stuart Collins showed up at the bar and was highly intoxicated. An employee also noticed Collins stumbling around the bar.
"She [the employee] identified Mr. Collins as extremely intoxicated, and the policies and procedures are to send that person home," Brenner says.
Collins stayed at the bar and police say for unknown reasons, he stumbled out the bar and set Gonzalez truck on fire as he sat helplessly inside.
Gonzalez emerged 11 minutes later, his body completely engulfed in flames. Gonzalez spent three months in a coma after the attack, and has had 17 surgeries.
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"I have a lot of bleeding," Gonzalez said in Spanish through a translator. "The skin of my fingers, all of the scabs have been falling off."
In his own words, Gonzalez said he feels like "a useless man on a bed."
The devastating injury has taken a toll on his wife of 21 years and their son, Jose Jr.
"My wife lost her job, she was a vice principal of a school," Gonzalez said. "You can imagine when there's no money coming in."
Collins was arrested and charged with arson. His trial is set to start in June. Meanwhile, Jose says he eventually plans to sue the bar, but is sharing his story in hopes that people will think more about their actions, especially now that the spring and summer months of vacation and partying are about to begin.
Jose Jr. believes Collins, the bar, and everyone involved with what happened to his father should be held responsible.
“My world has been pretty much turned upside down. My dad used to take care of me and now I take care of him,” he says.
