Man Who Set Girlfriend On Fire On The Run
MIAMI (CBS4) - MIAMI (CBS4) – The search is on for a Miami-Dade man who police say set his girlfriend on fire during a fight.
Witnesses told police Jesus Alvarez, 41, got into an argument with his girlfriend, 42-year old Margarita Blanco, in front of her trailer located in a mobile home park in the 22-hundred block of NW 27th Avenue.
Police spokesman Detective Roy Rutland said Alvarez chased her through the trailer park and then Blanco ran inside her trailer. Blanco's mother Julia Mendez said that's when things got ugly.
"He came in and took her out by the hair. He grabbed her and punched her over and over and right there he threw her on the floor while punching her," said Julia Mendez point to a spot on the ground.
When Mendez ran to help her daughter, Alvarez took off.
"There was a short period of time where this man disappeared, we believe that is the point he went and retrieved five gallon container of fuel, gasoline, at that point it appears he continued to beat her," Rutland said. "That is when he doused her with fuel, we believe it was gasoline, and set her on fire."
When police arrived they found Blanco sitting in a chair next to the gas can that Alvarez allegedly used to douse her. She was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital's burn unit in critical condition.
"I'm not going to lie to you, she's not in good condition," said Mendez.
Alvarez, who is a career criminal, is on the run.
If you have any information on Alvarez whereabouts you are asked to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS (8477).
