Mother Charged With Trying To Kill Toddler, Ex-Boyfriend

GIBSONTON, FL – A 26-year-old Wimauma woman has been charged with attempted homicide after trying to set a mobile home on fire with her baby and her ex-boyfriend inside.

Martha Morales-Santizo of 5904 Edina St., Wimauma, was arrested Wednesday, May 9, after a countywide search by law enforcement to locate her (see related story).

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call at about 4:20 a.m. Wednesday from Echaverria Lopez. 18, of 12130 U.S. 41 S., Gibsonton, reporting that Morales-Santiza, his former girlfriend and the mother of his 11-month-old son, Jose Hernandez-Rojas, had set fire to the exterior of his mobile home while he and his son were inside. She also wrote a threatening note in Spanish on the wall of the mobile home saying she was going to kill him, their child and herself.

Hernandez-Rojas had custody of the child.

The fire caused about $1,500 in damage.

Morales-Santiza was arrested later that afternoon after someone recognized her from a missing person’s alert.

In addition to attempted homicide, she’s been charged with first-degree arson, an injunction violation and written threats to kill.

Image via Hillsborough Sheriff

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