Florida mom, son dead after being set on fire by estranged husband, police say

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Edgard Fuentes is seen in a police booking photo the Palm Bay Police Department of Florida provided to CBS Orlando affiliate WKMG-TV. PALM BAY POLICE DEPARTMENT

PALM BAY, Fla. (CBS) — Authorities say a Florida woman and her adult son are dead after her estranged husband broke into their home and set them on fire.

Palm Bay police tell CBS Orlando affiliate WKMG-TV that 61-year-old Daisy Tapia and her son, 32-year-old Erik Montes, died from their injuries Thursday.

Sixty-four-year-old Edgard Fuentes faces murder, arson and burglary charges in their deaths.

Police say Fuentes went to the home early that morning and poured gasoline throughout the house and started a fire that seriously burned his estranged wife and his stepson.

Tapia had been sleeping when she was awakened and splashed with the gasoline, WKMG-TV reports. Montes heard her shouting and tried unsuccessfully to stop Fuentes from igniting the fire, police said.

Tapia and Montes were taken to a hospital, where they both died.

Police say Fuentes was later arrested at a nearby rest stop on Interstate 95. He had also been badly burned in the fire.

It’s unclear if Fuentes has an attorney.

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