Cathedral City Man Arrested for Assaulting and Attempting to Burn Victim Alive

DESERT HOT SPRINGS – A 25-year-old Cathedral City man was arrested after allegedly assaulting and attempting to burn a male victim alive.

On Wednesday, August 8, 2018, at around 7:00 p.m. Desert Hot Springs Police and Riverside County CalFire firefighters responded to the report of a possible structure fire in the 15600 block of Palm Drive in Desert Hot Springs. When they arrived they quickly fought the fire, but during the investigation, they found a badly injured male victim inside the burning home with injuries believed to be a result of an assault with a deadly weapon. The victim was rushed to an area hospital in critical condition.

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Detectives and Crime Scene investigators responded to the scene to assume the investigation. Weapons were found inside the home that were believed to be used to injure the victim. CalFire Arson investigators were able to determine that the fire was set intentionally following the assault. The suspect was identified as Miguel Espino, and at 1:50 a.m. on Thursday, August 9, 2018, Espino was located in Desert Hot Springs and taken into custody without incident.

Espino was booked into the Banning Jail for Attempted Murder, Arson Causing Great Bodily Injury, Arson to an Inhabited Structure, Aggravated Mayhem, Torture, and Violation of Protective Order. He is being held in lieu of $1 million bail.