Mom arrested after ‘pouring hot WAX on young daughters for Instagram likes before starting kitchen fire’

Alleged Videos and Arrest

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue responded to a home in Miami on Sunday after a report of a kitchen fire, and later determined that the blaze had been set intentionally, according to arrest affidavits obtained by The U.S. Sun. At the scene, police identified 26-year-old Meliza Campos-Sanchez, who was transported to a local hospital for an involuntary psychiatric evaluation and was discharged on Monday afternoon, as The Sun reported.

Soon after, authorities learned she had allegedly posted videos on her Instagram account, which had over 50,000 followers. In one video, she is seen using lit candles to pour hot melted candle wax onto her leg and then onto the hands of her three-year-old and six-year-old daughters, telling them "not to be scared," according to The Sun. In a second video, she appears in a silver mask and burgundy dress, dancing in her kitchen while holding a lighter. The Sun reported that she grabbed two items of clothing, dropped them on the floor, used a plastic bottle to squeeze a liquid believed to be rubbing alcohol onto them, and ignited them with the lighter. A large flash of orange flame can be seen as she threw a glass coffee mug into the blaze, the outlet added.

According to Miami-Dade jail records cited by The Gateway Pundit, Campos-Sanchez has been charged with child abuse with no great bodily harm, child neglect with no great bodily harm, and arson. The Sun earlier reported she was charged with first-degree arson and child abuse. Her attorney entered a not guilty plea on her behalf. She is being held without bond and has been ordered to stay away from her two daughters, who have been placed in their father's custody.

Background and Statements

The videos were still accessible on her Instagram as of Wednesday morning, with translations of the captions revealed by The Sun: in one, she warned not to trust even the fathers of daughters, and she addressed her husband, saying "See you in court" and that his daughters would forget him.

the father, Yusniel Cue, told police that the couple had been having marital issues and that he had been staying with his parents for the past week. He also said he rushed over to the house after a friend called him about the Instagram posts. He described to police that his wife had tried to commit suicide a week prior, and that he had called the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office but was not allowed to take his children from the home. He also raised concerns about an Amazon package containing a rope, which he believed she planned to use in another suicide attempt, The Sun reported.

The article also quotes the couple's eldest daughter, who said she and her sister were in the laundry room when they saw their mother set the fire. The girl said their mother put out the fire with a bowl of water and then poured wax on herself and the daughters, according to The Sun. Officials also found the remains of fire-damaged clothing in her trash along with a photograph of her being carried by her husband, the outlet said.

Immigration Status and Political Response

The Gateway Pundit reported that on Friday, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced that ICE had issued a detainer requesting that officials not release Campos-Sanchez, who she says entered 'illegally' through Florida in May 2022. In a statement, a spokesperson criticized the Biden administration, saying: "If it wasn't for the Biden Administration's reckless open-border policies, criminals like this woman would have never been able to enter our country." The spokesperson also said, "This Cuban illegal alien is charged with child abuse and arson after she poured hot wax onto one of her own children and then lit a fire in her home," adding that ICE is working with Florida partners to ensure she is removed after facing justice.

The political angle has been a central focus of The Gateway Pundit's coverage, which labeled he a 'deeply disturbed illegal alien admitted under the Biden regime' and attributed her entry to the 'open-border policy', while The Sun's coverage centered on the domestic and criminal details, mentioning the marital issues, prior suicide attempt, and her alleged actions documented on video and in court affidavits, but did not include her immigration status.

Legal and Custodial Status

Both outlets confirm that Campos-Sanchez was arrested and now faces charges. The Sun reported that she was scheduled to appear in court on Monday, where she pleaded not guilty. The girls' custody has been given to their father, according to The Sun. The court also ordered that she stay away from her children. A protective order is in place,The Sun's article notes, and she is in custody without bond.

The case has drawn attention due to the alleged dangerousness of the videos and the mother's actions, as well as her mental state, with mention of an involuntary psychiatric evaluation. The day after being hospitalized, she was arrested and charged. The Gateway Pundit also reported that the DHS spokesperson said that ICE is seeking her removal, but the article did not provide details beyond the statement.

As of the latest reporting, the videos were still available on her Instagram account with over 50,000 followers, raising concerns among authorities about the potential impact on the children and public. Officials have not released the names of the daughters, and no comments from the mother's lawyer have been reported.

Updates and Additional Context

This story has evolved over the course of the week. Initially reported The U.S. Sun, the focus was on the videos and the arson. The Gateway Pundit later added the immigration angle and the DHS responds. While both outlets describe an alleged incident, only the DHS comments are attributed directly. The Gateway Pundit cites NBC Miami for initially reporting the incident and jail records, but the article itself does not detail that source's reporting beyond what is repeated here.

It should be noted that no full text of the court documents or the DHS statement was included, and the details about the daughters' statements and the husband's claims are based on the affidavits described by The Sun. The court records described by Gateway Pundit list the specific charges. The fire was deemed intentional by the fire rescue, as both reports agree.

As the case moves forward, the court has set no bond, and the mother remains in custody. Her extradition and destination in the legal process remains to be seen. Meanwhile, the children are safe under the father's care according to the most recent available information. The last event reported was the DHS statement mentioning the detainer, on Friday.

The case highlights the interplay between severe allegations of child and potential legal defenses for mental health, and politically charged arguments about immigration. The public has shown significant interest, given the social media presence of the mother and the dramatic nature of the videos. As officers continue to investigate, additional charges may be considered in Florida.