A Florida father had reportedly already raised concerns with police about his two young daughters just one week before their mother allegedly set a kitchen fire while the children were inside. Meliza Campos-Sanchez, 26, was later arrested after investigators said she also poured hot wax onto the girls' hands and posted videos of the disturbing acts online.
The warning became part of a far more troubling picture after the fire on 16 August, when investigators discovered footage appearing to show the events inside the Miami home. Her husband, Yusniel Cue, had been staying with his parents amid marital problems, while Campos-Sanchez remained at the property with their six-year-old and three-year-old daughters.
Police Were Warned About the Girls
Cue told investigators that he had contacted the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office during the previous week because he was worried about his children. The disclosure came as deputies investigated the kitchen fire and spoke to him about the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The father also reportedly described an earlier suicide attempt involving Campos-Sanchez, who had allegedly tied a rope to the rafters. His concerns came against the backdrop of the couple's marital difficulties, with Cue staying away from the family home for about a week before the fire.
The Kitchen Fire Was Reportedly Deliberate
Deputies responded to the Miami property on 16 August after receiving a report of an intentional fire in the kitchen. Investigators determined that combustible materials had been ignited using an open flame and an ignitable liquid, with fire damage found on the tiled kitchen floor.
Florida woman films herself starting a fire in her kitchen and pouring hot wax on her children.
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) August 19, 2026
Meliza Campos-Sanchez was arrested and charged with child abuse, child neglect, and arson.
Her husband says they were going through marital issues and he had contacted the sheriff's… pic.twitter.com/7FtnArNWMc
Investigators also found burnt clothing and photographed items they believed were connected to the blaze, including a silver mask, a red lighter and a clear bottle containing a liquid believed to be rubbing alcohol. The evidence helped establish that the fire was allegedly not an accident.
Instagram Videos Changed the Case
The investigation took another turn when authorities discovered two videos posted to Campos-Sanchez's Instagram account on the day of the fire. One allegedly showed her dancing in the kitchen while wearing a silver mask, spraying liquid onto clothing and setting it alight with a lighter.
The same footage reportedly showed Campos-Sanchez using lit candles to pour melted wax onto her own body. A second video allegedly showed her pouring hot wax onto the hands of both daughters, turning the social media posts into a significant part of the investigation.
Her Six-Year-Old Daughter Described the Fire
The older girl later gave investigators an account of what she and her younger sister allegedly witnessed from the laundry room next to the kitchen. She reportedly said their mother started the fire, threw a glass mug onto the floor while dancing and then used a bowl of water to put out the flames.
The girl also told investigators that Campos-Sanchez later brought both children into the kitchen before pouring hot candle wax onto them. The account provided investigators with a child's perspective of the events that unfolded inside the home.
Their Father Rushed To Take Them Away
Cue reportedly learned about the Instagram videos after receiving a call from a friend of Campos-Sanchez, who urged him to contact police. When he arrived at the house, deputies and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue were already there, and he took custody of his daughters.
Campos-Sanchez was taken to hospital for a mental health evaluation under Florida's Baker Act before later being released and booked into jail. The children were therefore removed from the immediate situation as investigators continued piecing together the events.
Campos-Sanchez Was Held Without Bond
Campos-Sanchez was arrested on charges including child abuse, child neglect and arson after the investigation. The charges relate to allegations involving her daughters and the intentional kitchen fire, while the evidence cited by investigators included the videos, physical items recovered from the scene and statements from witnesses.
After appearing before a judge, she was appointed a public defender and ordered held without bond, with an immigration hold also recorded. The case leaves the father's reported warning from the previous week as one of the most unsettling details, coming days before the incident that ultimately led to Campos-Sanchez's arrest.
