Alleged Target Of Arson Was Previously A Target Of The Suspect
CENTENNIAL, Colo. (CBS4) – A man believes he was the target of a suspected arsonist who set an apartment complex on fire because of a relationship the suspect found out about on Facebook.
Naomi Almodovar, 23, went before a judge in Arapahoe County on Monday. She faces 40 counts of attempted first-degree murder.
Almodovar is set to be formally charged later this week with igniting the June 23 fire at the Copper Terrace Apartments in Centennial. The judge raised the bond amount in Almodovar's case to $1 million.
The fire was so bad that people living in the complex had to escape by jumping from windows as high as three stories. Investigators say they believe Almodovar had targeted complex resident David Tegtmeyer and put a lot of lives at risk.
"You never think a human would do something like that," Tegtmeyer
It's hard for Tegtmeyer to understand why his apartment building was set ablaze.
"I was very disoriented," he said.
Escaping the danger with his new girlfriend and two brothers, Tegtmeyer was among those trying to help others, including a bride-to-be and her maid of honor trapped on the third floor.
"Those are the two girls we caught in the comforter," he said.
Tegtmeyer didn't know what caused the fire until investigators called it arson.
According to court documents, Almodovar was upset with her ex-girlfriend. They had allegedly been together for years, but about a week before the fire the ex-girlfriend posted on Facebook she was in a new relationship. It allegedly sent the suspect into a rage.
Investigators believe Almodovar used gasoline to start the complex on fire where her ex-girlfriend was staying with Tegtmeyer, her new boyfriend.
"She's attacking me and doesn't even know me, which is the scary part," Tegtmeyer said.
It's not the first time either Almodovar is accused of targeting Tegtmeyer. She was charged in April for a hit-and-run that damaged Tegtmeyer's car, and domestic violence for a text message she sent her ex-girlfriend that said, "I will destroy everything you will ever love and everything you try to love and you are going to (expletive) take me."
"I knew, you know, when a duck walks like a duck, talks like a duck, it's a duck. I knew it was her," Tegtmeyer said.
A restraining order was even issued, but that didn't seem to help.
Tegtmeyer says he's glad Almodovar is behind bars now.
"We'll move on from this … I hope she gets the help she needs," he said.
More Centennial Arson Stories
