Woman Who Set Fire To Apartment Complex, Targeting Ex-Girlfriend, Sentenced
CENTENNIAL, Colo. (CBS4)– The woman who intentionally set fire to an apartment building that left several people seriously injured was sentenced on Thursday.
A judge sentenced Naomi Almodovar, 24, to 45 years in the Department of Corrections for the June 23, 2014 fire at the Copper Terrace Apartments in Centennial. Prosecutors said Almodovar intentionally set the fire in an attempt to murder her ex-girlfriend and had made several threats to burn the apartment prior to the massive fire.
Charles Holland lives in a complex next to the building set ablaze last summer. He thinks the punishment does not fit the crime.
"It would be nice to put her under the jail, but any time is better than no time," Holland told CBS4.
The fire was so bad that people living in the complex had to escape by jumping from windows as high as three stories. Investigators said Almodovar also targeted her ex-girlfriend's new boyfriend, David Tegtmeyer, and put a lot of lives at risk.
"You never think a human would do something like this," Tegtmeyer told CBS4 in July 2014. "I hope she gets the help she needs."
Prosecutors said Almodovar premeditated the fire by asking a friend to drive her to get gas. She then filled a container with gas and asked her friend to drive her to the Copper Terrace Apartments. District Attorney George Brauchler called Almodovar "self-involved" and "a coward" for running away from the "outrageous" crime.
"Many lives were endangered by this selfish act of domestic violence arson," Brauchler said in a statement following Almodovar's sentencing. "Once again the heroism of the Arapahoe County Sheriff Office, South Metro Fire and Aurora Fire Department prevented this arsonist from becoming a mass murderer."
Eight people were injured, some seriously. Firefighters with South Metro Fire and Rescue extinguished the flames and provided aid to those hurt escaping the fire.
"Many people could have died in that fire and we cared for multiple victims, some with serious injuries," South Metro Fire Chief Bob Baker said in a statement Thursday. "We are pleased that they have received justice."
Almodovar pleaded guilty to two counts of felony attempted first-degree murder, felony first-degree arson and three counts of violent crime on August 20.
Kelly Werthmann joined the CBS4 team in 2012 as the morning reporter, covering national stories like the Aurora Theater Shooting and devastating Colorado wildfires. She now reports for CBS4 News at 10 and is always open to story ideas. Connect with her on Facebook or Twitter @KellyCBS4.
