Surveillance Tape Shows Arsonist Who Sets Fire To Car And Home In Cutler Bay
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CUTLER BAY (CBSMiami) – New surveillance tape shows striking images of an arsonist who set fire to a Cutler Bay mother's car and home and now that mother and police are asking for the public's help in solving this crime.
"I feel horrible, just horrible. I can't even explain it. What kind of person would do this on Christmas Day. It is unthinkable," said the victim, who did not want to show all of her face and identified herself as Vanessa.
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Vanessa told CBS4's Peter D'Oench, "I didn't have a Christmas with our youngest son. He spent it with his grandparents, not his parents. It is just unthinkable that someone would do this."
Miami-Dade Police say the crime happened around 3:30 a.m. on Christmas at the home at 20636 S.W. 89th Ave. where Vanessa lives with her husband and three children.
Surveillance video shows the arsonist tossing a lit item into her 2013 Lexus RX 350 and pouring flammable liquid on to the front of the car. Within seconds, flames erupt, engulfing the car.
"This car meant a lot to us," said Vanessa. "This was our family car. It meant a lot. I feel hurt, like our feelings are hour. I have no idea why this person did this but that person will be caught."
Vanessa also showed us where the arsonist also set fire to the back door of her home.
Fortunately, her home did not catch fire. Vanessa and her family were not home at the time.
"I'm glad our home did not catch fire," she said. "I can't imagine what type of person would do something like that. There could have been children inside the home. This person can not be well in the mind."
"I would like to say to the person who did this to turn yourself in and stop doing these
hurtful things," she said. "You don't do these type of things. If anybody knows anything they should tell the police and call in about this person. It would mean a lot to find this person and put that person behind bars."
Vanessa said she had no idea why someone would have set the fires.
"We have no enemies, no enemies," she said. "We are a family to ourselves."
Miami-Dade Police Detective Romelio Martinez said police were not sure if this was a random act or if the victim and her husband were targeted.
Martinez said "It's fortunate the house did not catch fire."
He also said police did not know if the arsonist is male or female.
Vanessa said she is "90 percent certain" that the arsonist is a man, based on the surveillance tape that she has looked at.
Anyone with information should call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-TIPS (8477).
