Tourist From Missouri Finally Charged for Setting Fire that Destroyed Popular Puerto Rican Establishments

Tourist From Missouri Finally Charged for Setting Fire that Destroyed Popular Puerto Rican Establishments

In the early hours of January 2, 2025, the coastal town of Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico, awoke to a devastating blaze that consumed several local establishments. The inferno obliterated Bar Marea, Marinera Restaurant, Artesanías Juavia, and inflicted partial damage on Luichy’s Seaside Hotel, which was accommodating approximately 50 guests at the time. The estimated financial toll of the destruction stands at half a million dollars, leaving 15 employees without workplaces.

Tourist From Missouri Got served

Central to this catastrophe is Danielle Bertothy, a 36-year-old tourist from St. Peters, Missouri. Prior to the incident, Bertothy had been reported for causing disturbances in the area, including confrontations with employees of Bar Marea Combate. Despite interventions by local authorities, who escorted her back to her Airbnb on two occasions, she was not detained. Surveillance footage later revealed a woman, matching Bertothy’s description, carrying a gasoline container near the businesses shortly before the fire erupted. Further footage captured the moment the flames ignited within the bar.

In response to the incident, a federal grand jury in Puerto Rico indicted Bertothy on charges of maliciously damaging and destroying, by means of fire, a building and other real and personal property used in interstate and foreign commerce. She was arrested and is scheduled to appear in court in Missouri. If convicted, Bertothy faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to twenty years in prison. U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow stated, “This defendant will be held accountable for her dangerous actions that caused significant damage and put many lives at risk.”

What’s Next?

The aftermath of the arson has intensified scrutiny over visitor conduct in Puerto Rico, highlighting underlying tensions between locals and tourists. The incident has sparked discussions about the responsibilities of visitors and the impact of their actions on the communities they visit. In the wake of the destruction, the local community has rallied together, with fundraising efforts underway to rebuild the affected businesses and support displaced workers.

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