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Miami-Dade Mother Charged With Arson and Child Abuse Following Social Media Videos
Just the facts
Law enforcement officers responded to an intentional fire inside a Miami residence on August 16, 2026, where they discovered evidence of child endangerment involving Campos-Sanchez's 3-year-old and 6-year-old daughters. Prosecutors filed charges against Campos-Sanchez consisting of one count of arson, one count of child abuse, and two counts of child neglect. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security confirmed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement lodged an immigration detainer with the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center to take custody of the Cuban national upon any release from state custody. Defense attorneys requested the competency evaluation after family members stated that Campos-Sanchez had previously stopped taking prescribed mental health medication.
Why this is news
Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office deputies arrested 33-year-old Meliza Campos-Sanchez after she allegedly uploaded social media videos showing herself pouring melted candle wax on her children and setting a fire inside her kitchen. A Florida state judge ordered Campos-Sanchez to undergo mental competency evaluations by two court-appointed physicians following her initial court appearance.
Sources
This summary is compiled strictly from the original reporting below.