Police have charged an individual, who was deported three times, with setting the California fire that resulted in the tragic deaths of a mother and her two young children. The individual is believed to be an illegal immigrant.
According to a release from San Joaquin County prosecutors, Jose Carmen Cardona, aged 59, was taken into custody on Friday and accused of being involved in the campfire that occurred in Stockton on June 25. The fire tragically led to the loss of Lisbeth Gutierrez-Salazar, 32, and her two sons – Juan Gutierrez-Salazar, 10, and Julian Cardona-Gutierrez, 7.
According to the police, the victim was in a relationship with Cardona.
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The US Marshals Service apprehended the suspect after he had been evading capture.
In a statement released on Friday, Lasha Boyden, who serves as the US Marshal for the Eastern District of California, praised the tireless efforts of the U.S. Marshals Service Task Force. She stated that the team worked diligently and traveled extensively to track down the dangerous fugitive.
“We were able to swiftly and safely take the suspect into custody, thanks to a helpful tipster. The tragic loss of life in this incident deeply impacted both the community and the nation,” expressed Boyden. “My sincere hope is that the capture of the suspect brings a sense of relief to the families of the victims.”
According to a statement from the San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office, Carmona is accused of starting the fatal fire just before 6:40 a.m. on June 25. The trailer, where Gutierrez-Salazar and two children were sleeping at the time, was already engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived on the scene.
After the fire, Carmona was identified as the suspect, and the police issued a five-count arrest warrant against him, charging him with murder, attempted murder, and child endangerment. This happened three days after the tragic incident occurred.
