Tourist Accused of Setting Businesses on Fire in Puerto Rico Faces Imminent Charges

Prosecutors in Puerto Rico prepare to file charges against a tourist suspected of setting fires in Cabo Rojo, causing $500,000 in damages and displacing workers and tourists.

The Mayagüez Prosecutor's Office in Puerto Rico is preparing to file charges in absentia against a tourist suspected of setting fire to four businesses on January 2 in Cabo Rojo’s El Combate sector, a small coastal town in the southwest part of the island. The fires, which caused significant damage, have left merchants and the community seeking answers and justice.

Lieutenant Miguel Rivera Sepúlveda of the Police Bureau’s Mayagüez Explosives Division stated that the case could be presented to the Mayagüez Court as soon as this week or next. Rivera Sepúlveda emphasized the importance of gathering solid evidence to ensure the case progresses, including forensic evidence from the crime scene and the suspect's address in the United States. He urged the suspect, who fled Puerto Rico after the incident, to return and face justice. “She should face up to the authorities,” he stated.