Family escapes Lehigh Acres house fire set by 14-year-old they know

A Lehigh Acres teenager was arrested Saturday after igniting a house fire using a propane tank while a family of four and their five pets were asleep inside.

Fortunately, no one was injured, but the family had to escape through a window as the fire blocked their front door. They described the smoke as heavy and suffocating.

 "It was a very traumatic moment," said Lehigh Acres resident Namiry Enrique Alvarez. "Even now, two days later, I still can't sleep, and neither can they, because you relive everything that happened, and you're afraid it's going to happen again, which keeps you from sleeping. I'm pregnant, too. So, it's been a tough time for all of us."

The fire started around 6 a.m. on the 300 block of Paisley Avenue. Lee County sheriff's deputies found an open 5-gallon propane tank and a homemade Molotov cocktail outside the severely burned front door. Witnesses reported seeing the 14-year-old suspect park down the street and approach the home. 

The family said he lingered at the scene, even asking if they were okay, before leaving.

Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno said the teenager was located and arrested at his home, where he admitted to transporting the propane tank, using a gas-filled bottle to ignite the fire, and attempting to kill his teen friend, Alvarez's son, inside. The suspect was released to the Department of Juvenile Justice for secure detention.

"The State Attorney's Office will now determine whether he is charged as a juvenile or as an adult,” said Marceno. “We will work this case to the very, very end," said Marceno.

The teenager faces multiple charges, including four counts of attempted felony murder, arson, occupied burglary, making a destructive device, and possession or use of a weapon.

"This is a juvenile that's committing a tremendous, horrifying act—trying to kill four people in a residence. It's sad to me that things got this way, but I'm very thankful that the result is nobody's hurt, and our suspect is off the streets and charged," said Marceno.