Lehigh Acres, FL – A weekend house fire in Lehigh Acres has led to an arson arrest after investigators say a suspect intentionally set a home ablaze, killing a family’s dog.
According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a call for service on 6th Street West in Lehigh Acres over the weekend after a residence became fully engulfed in flames. Authorities said the occupants of the home had safely evacuated before deputies arrived and were not injured.
Investigators determined that earlier in the day, a verbal altercation allegedly occurred between one of the victims who lives at the residence and a suspect later identified as Jasmine Renee Saintil, according to the sheriff’s office.
Deputies say Saintil was later observed entering the home’s front porch area for an extended period before leaving the area while allegedly carrying a bottle and a torch. Officials reported that smoke soon began to fill the residence, and the fire quickly spread throughout the home.
The family’s dog, which remained inside the residence, died from smoke inhalation, authorities confirmed.
Using investigative techniques, deputies located and detained Saintil shortly after the incident, according to the sheriff’s office.
Saintil was charged with one count of Arson in the First Degree and one count of Aggravated Animal Cruelty, officials said. Jail records were not immediately available, and it was unclear whether Saintil has retained legal counsel.
Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno addressed the case in a statement, saying, “Anyone who intentionally sets a fire shows a complete disregard for life. That disregard extends to innocent animals, which I have zero tolerance for. I will always hold my commitment to protect both our residents of Lee County and their pets.”
The investigation remains ongoing.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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