Woman Charged with Arson amid L.A. Fires, but Not Suspected in the Major Blazes
Mar. 15, 2025Leo Carrillo State Park.Photo:Getty
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A woman was arrested on suspicion of arson amid theLos Angeles wildfires— but officials do not believe the incident to be connected to the devastating blazes.
The woman, 60-year-old Gloria Lynn Mandich, was taken into custody and charged with felony arson related to a Jan. 8 brush fire in Los Angeles County, California State Parks announced in apress releaseon Friday, Jan. 10.
The Kentucky native now faces a felony charge for allegedly causing a fire of a structure or forest land, as well as a separate arson charge specific to fires started during an emergency, records show. She pleaded not guilty.
Mandich made her first appearance in court on Jan. 10, and has upcoming court appearances set for Jan. 22 and Jan. 24, the latter of which will be a preliminary examination.
The prosecutor in the arson case did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment, nor did Mandich’s attorney.
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A firefighter battles the Eaton fire in Altadena, Calif., on Jan. 8, 2025.David McNew/Getty Images
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The suspect, later identified as Jose Carranza-Escobar, was detained and admitted to starting the fire, police said. He was arrested for arson and subsequently booked, and is now currently being held in custody.
More than 80,000 people have been displaced in the L.A. wildfires sincethey started in Pacific Palisadeson Jan. 7. TheEaton Firecame soon after at around 6:30 p.m. the same day. By the morning of Wednesday, Jan. 8, the fires had reached 10,000 acres across Pasadena and Altadena.
Thousands of structures, including businesses and residents’ homes, have been affected in the massive, fast-growing blazes — which, still uncontained, have already proved to be the most destructive natural disasters in the history of Los Angeles.
As of Jan. 10, at least 11 people are dead as a result of the fires, according to county officials.
Click hereto learn more about how to help the victims of the L.A. fires.
source: people.com
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