Sunday, March 13, 2011

Miami, FL: Man suspected of setting girlfriend on fire is arrested

Miami-Dade Police
A picture of Jesus Alvarez, suspected by Miami-Dade police of setting his girlfriend on fire Wednesday night.
Miami-Dade Police have arrested Jesus Alvarez, the man suspected of lighting his girlfriend on fire and causing her subsequent death.
Alvarez was taken into custody Saturday, according to Miami-Dade spokesman Det. Alvaro Zabaleta.

His girlfriend Margarita Blanco died of her injuries, police say.

Blanco was allegedly being beaten by Alvarez outside her mobile home when she dashed inside for protection early Wednesday evening. Alvarez followed her inside, which is where the alleged burning took place.

Det. Roy Rutland said last week the woman had been chased through the trailer park as Alvarez beat her.

“There was a short period of time where this man disappeared. We believe that is the point he went and retrieved five-gallon container of fuel, gasoline, at that point it appears he continued to beat her,” Det. Rutland said.

“That is when he doused her with fuel, we believe it was gasoline, but we’re still waiting for results, and set her on fire.”

On Friday Blanco’s mother, Julia Mendez, described the attack.

“He came in and took her out by the hair. He grabbed her and punched her over and over and right there he threw her on the floor while punching her,” Mendez said.

Miami-Dade Police say Alvarez is a career criminal.

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