Woman Charged With Boy’s Death in Fire
A Sylmar woman was charged with murder Friday in connection with the death of a 5-month-old boy killed in an arson fire prosecutors say the woman set because she 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 was due to arson. She was also charged with one count of arson resulting in great bodily injury.
If convicted, she could face the death penalty, although Deputy Dist. Atty. Kenneth Barshop said a decision has not been made whether prosecutors will actually ask for a death sentence.
A preliminary hearing date will be set on June 7.
Lopez was arrested Wednesday morning after a fire destroyed a two-room cottage behind her home at 13501 Borden Ave.
The infant was in the care of his stepsister, who was outside when the fire started. Police said Lopez set the fire because she was angry that the baby’s parents, Ricardo Robles and Virginia Portillo, kept the place they rented from her dirty.
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