A mother was charged with child abuse and arson after posting videos to her Instagram showing her pouring hot wax on her daughters and lighting a fire inside. (Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office)
MIAMI, Fla. (WKRC) – A mother was charged with child abuse and arson after posting videos to her Instagram showing her pouring hot wax on her daughters and lighting a fire in her kitchen.
Police began investigating 26-year-old Meliza Campos-Sanchez on August 16 after receiving a report of a fire in her kitchen, according to multiple affidavits obtained by . Investigators reportedly determined the fire was set intentionally by pouring a flammable liquid onto combustible materials.
Authorities soon learned that Campos-Sanchez posted two videos to her , which has over 55,000 followers, that showed the circumstances surrounding the fire.
Both videos were posted on the day of the fire, and Campos-Sanchez dancing around in a silver mask while holding a lighter and pouring a substance onto a pile of clothes before lighting them on fire. She was also seen pouring hot wax from a lit candle onto her chest. Investigators allegedly found the mask, flammable liquid, and lighter at the scene when responding to the fire.
The showed Campos-Sanchez pouring hot wax on the hands of her two daughters, as well as pouring it onto her leg.
Campos-Sanchez’s eldest daughter reportedly told police that she and her younger sister saw their mother light a fire in the kitchen and throw a glass mug onto the flood while dancing before extinguishing the fire with a bowl of water. She also claimed that her mother poured hot wax from a candle onto her and her sister.
Investigators interviewed Campos-Sanchez’s husband, who told them that the pair were going through marital issues and that he was living with his parents while his wife stayed at the house with their children, the affidavit said. The husband contacted police after seeing the videos on his wife’s Instagram account.
Campos-Sanchez was hospitalized after her husband arrived at her house during the fire investigation and took custody of the children, the affidavit said. The husband also told police that Campos-Sanchez had attempted suicide shortly before the incident and that he contacted the sheriff’s office a week prior due to concerns about his children.
Campos-Sanchez was arrested and charged with child abuse, child neglect, and first-degree arson.