MESA, AZ – In the early hours of June 12, a security camera captured a figure walking away from a Mesa home moments before a devastating fire erupted. Authorities now suspect the individual set the blaze that left a family homeless and grieving the loss of two beloved pets.
Thelma Cuevas, a Mesa resident, recounted the harrowing events of that morning. Awakened by her rescue cat biting her nose, Cuevas found her home engulfed in smoke. “We lost everything,” she shared, tears in her eyes.
In a desperate attempt to extinguish the flames, Cuevas discovered the water supply had been shut off. “I couldn’t use the hose,” she said. Fortunately, Cuevas and her children managed to escape with only the clothes on their backs. Tragically, two of their pets perished, and another remains missing.
Cuevas suspects the fire was deliberately set by an individual with whom she had a contentious past. Just 12 hours before the incident, she had filed a restraining order against her ex-boyfriend following a domestic violence situation. “This was an attempt to kill me and my kids,” she asserted.
Additional signs of foul play were evident. Smoke detector batteries had been removed, and the back doors were jammed, Cuevas noted. Mesa police confirmed they were initially called to assist with the house fire and later arrested the ex-boyfriend on suspicion of arson.
Despite the trauma, Cuevas expressed gratitude for the outpouring of community support. Neighbors, her doctor, and even a local production company have stepped forward to help. “After all the bad, I got to see some kindness,” she said.
Currently, the family is residing in a temporary Airbnb as they search for their missing cat and work to rebuild their lives. “It’s about finding stability and healing after trauma,” Cuevas emphasized.
For those wishing to assist, a GoFundMe page has been established to support Cuevas and her children during this challenging time.