Mother, Daughter Recovering From Burns

A La Habra woman and her mother were reported in fair condition Friday after the younger woman’s husband allegedly doused them with gasoline and set them on fire, authorities said.

Jasmine Espinoza Baker, 36, and her mother, Concepcion Mendoza Cortez, 61, were at UCI Medical Center in Orange, where they were being treated for severe burns to their upper bodies and faces, police said.

Mendoza Cortez suffered second- and third-degree burns to her face, neck and hands, said Kim Pine, a spokeswoman for the hospital. Espinoza Baker suffered second- and third-degree burns to her face, neck and chest.

Guy Leslie Baker, 45, who police said burned the women and then turned himself in to Downey police Thursday evening, was being held Friday in the jail ward of Western Medical Center-Santa Ana, where he was being treated for burns to his hands.

The attack on the two women caused a fire that did extensive damage to the apartment in the 700 block of West First Avenue in La Habra, authorities said. About 10 units were damaged by smoke and water, displacing residents Thursday night.

Neighbors at the apartment complex said they saw Baker walk up to the third floor carrying a gasoline can, and later saw him run away.

Sonia Alvarado, who lives in a unit across from the Bakers, said she saw the women swatting at each other to put out the flames. Alvarado said Baker’s 5-year-old son was also home but was not harmed.

Baker is in the custody of the Orange County Sheriff’s Dept., with arraignment set for Tuesday at Orange County Superior Court’s North Justice Center in Fullerton.

La Habra police said they will seek multiple charges, including attempted murder and arson.

“We have the charges regarding the fire--the arson aspect--charges regarding domestic violence, mayhem and assaulting the wife and mother-in-law,” said Capt. John Rees of the La Habra Police Dept. “There could be a dozen different charges this guy will face. I’m very confident we’ll have a very good case to prosecute with.”

Detectives Friday continued to investigate the incident, for which no motive has been determined.