Lehigh Acres woman accused of arson, killing dog

LEHIGH ACRES, Fla.—The Lee County Sheriff’s Office arrested a woman accused of arson that led to the death of a dog on 6th St W in Lehigh Acres.

On Saturday, deputies responded to a house fire that was fully engulfed. Before their arrival, law enforcement found that all occupants had safely evacuated and were uninjured.

An investigation was launched, leading deputies to discover that an altercation between one of the residence's victims and the suspect, later identified as Jasmine Renee Saintil, 29, had occurred.

According to deputies, the victim then left the building, leaving Saintil unattended. 

Witness accounts said that Saintil then allegedly entered the residences through the front porch for an unknown amount of time before running away from the area while carrying a bottle and a torch as smoke began to fill the home.

As the home began to be engulfed in flames, a dog inside the home succumbed to smoke inhalation.

Through their investigation, deputies eventually located and interviewed Saintil. She was later arrested and charged with aggravated animal cruelty and first-degree arson.

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office provided footage of the scene on their Facebook account.