Authorities have announced the arrest of a woman on suspicion of dousing a homeless woman with a flammable liquid and setting her on fire, inflicting horrific injuries, in Northern California.
The alleged arson attack took place on April 26 in South Sacramento, according to the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office. The suspect was arrested in connection with the crime on Tuesday, May 13.
The fire resulted in the 49-year-old victim suffering burns to roughly a third of her body, the agency said in a written statement.
‘Burns to approximately one-third of her body’
The attack was first reported about 9:30 p.m. on April 26 in the area of 17th Avenue and Stockton Boulevard.
Firefighters and deputies arrived at the scene to encounter the victim suffering from severe burn injuries, sheriff’s officials said. She was rushed to a hospital for treatment.
“The victim had burns to approximately one-third of her body, including her face, torso, arms, and back,” the statement said. “Once at the hospital, she was intubated for several days, where she was unable to speak or provide a statement.”
Investigators collected video surveillance footage and spoke with witnesses, who had helped to extinguish the burning woman, officials said.
Deputies soon identified 34-year-old Jacqueline Popaibarra as a suspect. Her city of residence was not available.
They determined she had arrived in a car to confront the victim at the place she had chosen to sleep for the night and began an argument.
“[Popaibarra ] then threw an unknown liquid — believed to be a fire accelerant of some sort — onto the victim, then set her on fire,” according to the sheriff’s department statement. “Bystanders helped put out the fire, when Popaibarra began to kick the victim before fleeing in her vehicle.”
The victim identifies her attacker
Although suspected early on, the investigation was slowed by the medical condition of the severely injured victim, authorities said.
“Detectives were finally able to speak to the victim [May 13], who positively identified Popaibarra as her assailant,” the statement said.
The suspect, who was already in custody in connection with an unrelated robbery case, was re-booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, arson and mayhem, Sacramento County booking records show.
Mayhem is legally defined as permanently disfiguring a victim or leaving them permanently disabled.
Bail was set at $450,000 pending legal proceedings.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Video: Woman accused of setting another woman ablaze in Northern California
Reporting by Brian Day, Victorville Daily Press / Palm Springs Desert Sun
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