The call came in as a kitchen fire. By the time Miami-Dade Fire Rescue finished responding, investigators were looking into a much larger case involving two young children, alleged hot wax pouring, and videos investigators say Campos Sanchez recorded and posted herself.
Meliza Campos Sanchez, 26, was arrested after authorities said she poured melted candle wax on her daughters and later set clothing on fire inside the Miami-Dade residence.
She faces charges including first-degree arson, child abuse and child neglect, though the allegations have not been proven in court.
The case has drawn attention because investigators say the evidence came from several places: the home, witness accounts, and videos they say Campos Sanchez recorded herself.
Fire crews arrived at the home in the 4200 block of Southwest 95th Avenue on Aug. 16 after reports of a kitchen fire. According to the arrest affidavit cited in reports, investigators later determined the fire was intentionally set.
That discovery led investigators to look beyond the flames and examine what they say happened inside the home.
Investigators Say the Fire Was Only the Beginning
The fire investigation led authorities to allegations involving Campos Sanchez and her two daughters.
The children, ages 6 and 3, were inside the home during the incident. The older daughter reportedly told investigators that she and her younger sister were in a laundry room near the kitchen when the fire happened.
She also reportedly said they put out the flames using a bowl of water.
During the investigation, authorities collected items they believed were connected to the fire, including fire-damaged materials, a silver mask, a red lighter, and a plastic bottle containing a clear liquid they believed may have been rubbing alcohol.
Laboratory testing has not publicly confirmed the substance, and authorities have not released additional forensic details about the items collected at the scene.
The Instagram Videos Investigators Say Became Evidence
View this post on Instagram
Two Instagram videos Campos Sanchez allegedly recorded and posted herself became a major part of the investigation.
According to reports, one video allegedly showed Campos Sanchez pouring melted candle wax onto her own leg and onto her daughters’ hands. Another allegedly showed clothing on the kitchen floor being sprayed with liquid before being set on fire.
Investigators reviewed the videos alongside physical evidence collected from the home and statements connected to the case.
Save this article
Enter your email address and we'll send it straight to your inbox.
According to court documents cited in reports, the older daughter described the substance from the candles as “hot water or agua.” Investigators identified it as melted candle wax.
The posts also played a role in how authorities learned of the allegations. Campos Sanchez’s husband, Yusniel Cue, reportedly learned about the videos from a friend before contacting police.
The Days Before the Arrest Raised More Questions
Statements from Campos Sanchez’s husband and events after the fire provide more background, but several details remain unclear.
Cue told investigators that he and Campos Sanchez had been experiencing marital problems and that he had been staying with his parents for about a week before the incident. Those details come from his statement in the arrest affidavit and provide context about the situation before the fire, but they do not establish a motive.
After the incident, Campos Sanchez was taken to a hospital and underwent a mental health evaluation under Florida’s Baker Act process before being booked, according to reports.
Reports indicate she was sedated when an investigator initially attempted to interview her. No diagnosis has been publicly released, and Campos Sanchez has not publicly responded to the allegations.
The children were reportedly placed with their father. No additional details about child welfare involvement or future custody arrangements have been publicly released.
What Remains Unknown in the Case
View this post on Instagram
The investigation has revealed what authorities allege happened, but several major questions remain unanswered.
Authorities have not publicly identified a motive. Cue’s statements about marital problems provide background information, but investigators have not said those issues explain the allegations.
The available reporting also does not include detailed medical information about the children. Reports state that neither child was injured, but no medical records or forensic evaluations have been publicly released.
For now, the case rests on the evidence investigators say they collected, including the arrest affidavit, witness statements, physical items from the home, and videos Campos Sanchez allegedly recorded and posted herself.
The legal process will determine how that evidence is evaluated as the case moves forward.
How much of our lives should we record and share when those moments can later become part of something much bigger?
Read More:
- Kentucky Parents Face Child Abuse Case After Children Allegedly Locked in Dog Cages and Burned With Cigarettes
- Florida Mom Killed Mother and Two Daughters After Fight Over Husband’s Phone, Police Say
- 5-Year-Old Boy’s Death Leads to 22-Year Sentence for Mother as Court Details Years of Abuse
- Minnesota Man Kills Wife and Daughter at Daycare After Killing His Mother
