A Cuban immigrant in the U.S. is confronting serious charges including child abuse, neglect, and arson after reportedly subjecting her young daughter to a horrific ordeal involving hot wax and a home fire in Miami.
Meliza Campos-Sanchez now faces two counts of child neglect, one count of child abuse, and an arson charge, linked to events that authorities say unfolded on August 16. As part of the judicial process, she is slated for a court-mandated mental competency evaluation.
Responding to an emergency call, Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office deputies arrived at a property where a kitchen blaze was allegedly set intentionally, according to the criminal complaint filed and accessible through News Media.
The subsequent investigation unearthed videos that Campos, a social media influencer with a following of 87,000 on Instagram, had posted online. The clips purportedly showed her applying melted candle wax on herself and the hands of at least one of her daughters. Another disturbing video reportedly captured her singing and dancing in the kitchen before setting clothes on fire with a lighter.
The complaint details that Campos’s daughters, ages 3 and 6, were allegedly reassured by her “not to be scared” just before she dripped hot wax onto the hand of the younger child. Despite the alarming act, the affidavit indicates that no injuries were visible on the child. (Instagram/@melizacsanchez)
According to the complaint, Sanchez allegedly told the two girls – ages 3 and 6 – “not to be scared” before putting a drop of hot candle wax onto one daughter’s hand. The affidavit notes that the child had no visible injuries from the incident.
According to the complaint, one child allegedly told an arson-squad detective that she and her sister saw their mother burn a shirt, starting a fire while they were inside the residence.
Following Campos’ arrest, officers did not interview her because she was sedated.
The Department of Homeland Security said Immigration and Customs Enforcement lodged an immigration detainer with the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center the day after her arrest, asking local officials to notify federal immigration authorities before releasing her so ICE could potentially take her into custody.
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Campos illegally entered the United States through Florida in May 2022 under the Biden administration, ICE said.
Meliza Campos-Sanchez has been charged with two counts of child neglect, cruelty toward child, child abuse and arson. ICE lodged a detainer with the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center the day after she was arrested. (Miami-Dade County)
“This Cuban illegal alien is charged with child abuse and arsonafter she poured hot wax onto one of her own children and then lit a fire in her home,” said a DHS spokesperson. “If it weren’t for the Biden administration’s reckless open-border policies, criminals like this woman would have never been able to enter our country. ICE has lodged a detainer asking Miami officials to not release this criminal from jail. We will work with our partners in Florida to make sure she is removed from our country after she faces justice.”
In her initial court appearance, Campos’ defense sought a competency evaluation, and the judge ordered evaluations by two Spanish-speaking doctors.
Meliza Campos Sanchez is facing serious charges, including arson and child abuse. But on Friday, her family came to her defense, raising concerns about her mental health. (Instagram/@melizacsanchez)
The court-mandated mental health evaluation came after Campos’ husband said he had previously sought help and called police because he was concerned about her mental state and relatives said she had been prescribed medication but stopped taking it.
News Media has reached out to Campos’ court-appointed attorney for comment.