A 37-year-old man was burned to death fully conscious after being set ablaze in his bedroom on Feb. 24.

The suspect, Martin Thomas Hartman whom police say is mentally troubled walked into a police station on Tuesday and confessed to authorities. The 38-year-old Santa Barbara resident told police that he poured gasoline over the victim, Clint Scott Risetter and set him on fire, partly because he was gay.

The suspect apparently broke into the 37-year-old victim's home and crept into his bedroom. Hartman knew the man for about six months, but only recently found out he was gay. Risetter was pronounced dead after firefighters arrived.

Hartman has a history of mental illness and had been a suspect in at least 10 arsons over the past decade although the police never had enough evidence to charge him.

The Associated Press reports Hartman could face the death penalty if convicted of all charges, including the recently added hate-crime allegation. Prosecutors expect he will be charged shortly on charges of murder and arson.

"[Hartman] first said he did it because the victim was unhappy and depressed so he didn't need to be around in the world," police Sgt. Mike McGrew, the lead investigator on the case told the LA Times.

"He also said he killed him because he was gay, and he has a lot of hatred toward gay people."

The Times reported that the suspect's mother, Waltraudt Hartman, acknowledged that her son had been upset lately but insisted he did not kill Risetter.

"He was always a good son, and he never hurt me," she said. "He didn't drink or smoke or take drugs. He was depressed lately, but he was not on medication.

"I don't believe anything that I have read or heard… He is not capable of this. He is a very religious man."

Risetter who moved from South Dakota had hoped to make it as an actor or model in California. Before his death, he had modelled part time, mostly men's clothing, and landed bit parts in various movies, including the 1991 Michael J. Fox comedy Doc Hollywood.