Woman accused of igniting house fire that killed dog in Lehigh Acres

LEHIGH ACRES, Fla. —

A Lee County woman is facing charges after deputies said a verbal altercation escalated to a house fire in Lehigh Acres.

Firefighters and deputies received a call about a home that was fully engulfed in flames along Sixth Street West on Saturday at approximately 5:59 p.m.

According to the Lee County Sheriff's Office, investigators learned that the suspect, identified as 29-year-old Jasmine Renee Saintil, was involved in a verbal altercation with one of the residents earlier in the day.

LCSO said that after the altercation, Saintil was seen entering the residence's front porch for an extended period of time before fleeing the area while carrying a bottle and a torch as smoke billowed through the home.

According to the sheriff's office, the occupants of the home were able to evacuate safely and were not injured; however, the family's dog remained inside the home and died from smoke inhalation.

Saintil is facing charges of first-degree arson and aggravated animal cruelty.

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