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Florida Man Allegedly Told Authorities He Set Woman On Fire Because He Loved Her And She Had Sex With His Stepfather
After allegedly setting Angelica Blanco on fire, a witness said suspect Luis Quinonez grabbed a hose and brushed past the flaming woman to spray his burning house.
A Florida man is accused of setting a 62-year-old woman on fire, claiming he was in love with her and that she was having sex with his stepfather.
As the mother of 54-year-old Luis Quinonez was nearing the end of her life several months ago, a caretaker, 62-year-old Angelica Blanco, moved in with the family. Quinonez told police he fell in love with Blanco – but found out that she was having sex with his stepfather, who lived on their property in an outbuilding, according to a probable cause affidavit submitted by the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office and obtained by Oxygen.com.
Quinonez told police that after a night of drinking Monday, he flew into a jealous rage, the affidavit states. After shouting at Blanco, who was renting a room in their house, Quinonez walked to a nearby gas station – allegedly telling Blanco “she better not be home” when he got back.
Quinonez said he returned with a canister of gasoline to find Blanco still in bed. After pouring the accelerant all over her and the mattress, he set the woman on fire with a lighter, the affidavit alleges.
Witnesses described Blanco running “covered in flames” from the house moments later. A neighbor grabbed a hose, but Quinonez allegedly snatched it from their hands and “bypassed” the burning woman to spray the house, according to the affidavit. Still on fire, Blanco allegedly pointed at Quinonez and named him as her attacker.
By the time police arrived, the residence was a blackened shell and Blanco was covered in second- and third-degree burns. Blanco was rushed to the hospital and later flown to Miami for treatment.
Quinonez, meanwhile, was arrested and charged with attempting premeditated murder. He allegedly “solemnly explain[ed]” the evening’s events to his arresting officer and said he wished he’d attacked his stepfather instead of Blanco. He said that “if he had a gun he would have shot” the man, according to the affidavit.
The stepfather was not at the residence when detectives arrived.
Quinonez has faced previous felony charges for assault, according to documents available at the Palm Beach County Clerk and Comptroller’s office.
Quinonez's public defender could not be immediately reached for comment.
