Father Charged With Murder Following Death Of 3-Year-Old Girl Pulled From Car Fire In Queens
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - Murder charges were filed Friday against the father of a little girl who died after she was pulled from a burning car last week in Queens.
Martin Pereira is accused of trapping his 3-year-old daughter Zoey Pereira in the back seat of a car and set it on fire.
Police say the rear doors were chained shut.
"Horrible. I didn't even sleep last night because I was just thinking about that little baby. It was horrible," said witness Jenny Chalmers shortly after the incident.
Police say on May 5 Zoey's mother called police to report a custody dispute with Pereira. The parents were engaged to be married, but broke up after five years together. Police say the former couple has a history of domestic incidents, both accusing each other of abusing their daughter.
Pereira recently filed a complaint against Zoey's mother with the Administration for Children's Services.
Police took Pereira into custody at a nearby pond. They also recovered two fuel canisters in the car, and a propane tank next to it.