RIVERDALE, Utah, Jan. 13, 2023 (Gephardt Daily) — Charges have been filed against a 45-year-old woman and her 18-year-old nephew after police say they conspired to burn down her Riverdale mobile home.
Herminia Torres-Gonzalez and Sigifredo Gomez-Torres both are being held without bail in the Weber County Jail following an explosion and fire early Sunday at Lesley’s Mobile Home Park, 671 W. 4400 South.
Riverdale fire officials said crews from five agencies arrived at the scene about 3:55 a.m. It took about 40 minutes to extinguish the blaze, which caused “significant damage” to the mobile home, fire officials said.
“Throughout an initial investigation, it was determined that the cause of the fire was likely arson,” according to a probable cause statement filed in 2nd District Court.
Riverdale police say Gomez-Torres agreed to burn down his aunt’s mobile home in exchange for $800, the affidavit states.
“He later cooperated in a pretext phone call with [Torres-Gonzalez] where she admitted she would pay him for burning the trailer down and advised him on how to avoid discovery on certain details of the case,” according to charging documents filed Tuesday.
Investigators found a cellphone with its flashlight on underneath the burned mobile home, along with a lighter and two facemasks nearby, police said.
Witnesses reported seeing “two to three individuals run from the area after the trailer was lit on fire,” court documents state.
Investigators interviewed several people at the scene, including Gomez-Torres, who had a burn on the bridge of his nose to the point skin was “coming off of it,” the police statement continues.
Torres-Gonzalez and Gomez-Torres both have been charged with:
- Aggravated arson, a first-degree felony
- Conspiring to commit aggravated arson, a second-degree felony
