SYLMAR : Woman Charged in Death of Infant in House Fire
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A Sylmar woman was charged with murder Friday in connection with the death of an infant killed in an arson fire that prosecutors say was set because the woman was angry at her tenants.
Raquel Lopez, 46, was arraigned in San Fernando Municipal Court on one count of murder with the special circumstance that it occurred during the commission of an arson. She was also charged with one count of arson resulting in great bodily injury. If convicted, she could face the death penalty.
Lopez was arrested Wednesday morning after a fire destroyed a two-room cottage behind her home in the 13500 block of Borden Avenue. An off-duty firefighter and a neighbor tried to rescue Richard Robles, who would have been 5 months old Sunday, but were thwarted by security bars on the windows.
The district attorney’s office is collecting donations on behalf of the child’s family. Donations may be sent to the district attorney’s SAVE Foundation, P.O. Box 349, Los Angeles 90053-0349.
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