Mother Who Burned Girl Is Guilty of Lesser Count

A Florida woman accused of dousing her daughter with gasoline and setting her ablaze in an argument over a boyfriend was convicted on a lesser charge of attempted second-degree murder in Miami.

Maria Tarrago, 41, acknowledged pouring gasoline on her then-15-year-old daughter, who caught fire as Tarrago flicked a cigarette lighter. The girl, now 17, was burned over 23% of her body and badly disfigured over the head, arms and shoulders.

Tarrago’s lawyer told the state court jury that Tarrago, an uneducated maid, only meant to frighten the girl and that the fire was a “tragic, tragic accident.”