His bond was set at $170,000.
SAN ANTONIO — A man is accused of attempted murder after allegedly setting his ex-girlfriend’s house on fire while her children were inside Wednesday, according to an arrest affidavit.
37-year-old Iker Sanchez is facing multiple charges including attempted murder, arson and making a terroristic threat.
The Von Ormy Police Department responded to a suspicious activity call of a man trying to set a building on fire around 11 a.m. at the 14000 block of Benton City Road.
Investigators with the Bexar County Fire Marshal’s Office were called to Von Ormy and determined the fire had been intentionally set.
Investigators say Sanchez was in a relationship with the female homeowner. On several occasions Sanchez reportedly told the woman if she broke up with him he would kill her or would burn down her home with her two children inside.
According to the arrest affidavit, while the woman was at the store, Sanchez FaceTimed her as he was pouring liquid – believed to be gasoline on the house near her children’s bedroom.
According to the Bexar County Fire Marshal’s Office, Sanchez then ignited the liquid while on the phone with her and then fled the scene. Her children, ages 11 and 15 were able to run out of the home, extinguish the fire with a water hose and secure their front gate.
Documents state that Sanchez returned to the home, yelling at the children to open the gate but they refused. Sanchez then threatened that he would return to “finish what he started.”
Investigators said Sanchez began sending threatening messages to the woman around 9 a.m. They also found a red plastic gasoline can at the location of the fire, which corroborated the woman’s claims.
Sanchez was quickly located and taken into custody without incident at the 1600 block of Michigan Avenue.
He was booked at the Bexar County jail. His bond was set at $170,000. An immigration detainer was also placed on Sanchez at the request of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.