NEW CITY, NY – A 72-year-old man from West Haverstraw was arraigned Friday on a sweeping indictment charging him with trying to murder 11 people — including three children — by allegedly setting a mattress ablaze inside a crowded multifamily home while residents were still asleep.
German Santiago stands accused of lighting a fire near the entrance of 52 Blauvelt Avenue around 5 a.m. on August 1. The home, shared by a dozen tenants, became a potential death trap as flames ignited and began to spread. According to court documents, a witness saw Santiago douse a mattress with an unknown substance before fleeing the scene.
Residents, some of them children under 16, were jolted awake by the sound of the blaze. Several ran into the hallway and discovered the fire before emergency crews arrived. Officers from the Town of Haverstraw Police Department responded quickly and managed to help extinguish the flames, preventing what could have been a mass-casualty disaster.
Santiago was indicted on 11 counts each of attempted murder and arson, one count of first-degree criminal contempt, and three counts of endangering the welfare of a child. Prosecutors allege his actions put every sleeping tenant in grave danger.
Officials say the suspect had prior legal restrictions barring certain actions, though details of the contempt charge have not been released. The case remains under investigation by the Rockland County Sheriff’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation alongside local police.
If convicted, Santiago faces a minimum of 10 years and up to 25 years behind bars.
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Key Points
- German Santiago, 72, allegedly set fire to a mattress inside a home with 12 tenants
- He faces 11 counts of attempted murder and 11 counts of second-degree arson
- Three children were among those endangered in the early-morning blaze
A New York man is accused of trying to burn 12 people alive in a house fire he allegedly started before fleeing the scene.