SYLMAR : Murder Charges Expected in Fire That Killed Baby
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Los Angeles police are expected to ask the district attorney to file murder charges today against a Sylmar woman who detectives say set a tenant’s house afire, killing a 6-month-old baby, in a minor neighborhood dispute.
Richard Robles died Wednesday morning when flames erupted in a cottage behind a home in Sylmar, police said. The baby’s parents, Ricardo Robles and Virginia Portillo, rented the cottage from Raquel Lopez, 46, who was arrested on suspicion of murder.
LAPD Lt. Larry Hinrichs identified the motive as “a neighbor dispute of a minor nature.” He said it was unclear whether Lopez knew the baby was in the dwelling when she allegedly used a flammable liquid to ignite the fire.
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