A Texas dad has launched a GoFundMe after his ex-girlfriend allegedly burned his house down because she thought he was cheating.
On November 22, the Bexar County Sheriff's office issued a statement saying that 23-year-old Senaida Soto robbed and set fire to Tommy Garay's home after she FaceTimed his phone and another woman answered.
According to the police, the woman who answered the call turned out to be a relative of Garay, however, Soto is accused of lighting her ex-boyfriend's couch on fire, which caused flames to spread throughout the house.
Soto was arrested on Tuesday (November 22) and is facing felony burglary and arson charges, the sheriff’s office said. The fire caused over $50,000 in damages.
Read the police's statement below:Garay has since created a GoFundMe page to help cover the damages. He said that he was not home when Soto - who he said he dated for only a month - burned down the family home that he shared with his two-year-old daughter.
The father-of-one wrote that his property belongs to his grandfather and had been in the family for generations. He described his loss as "devastating" for his family.
"I called the fire department but unfortunately by the time they arrived everything I owned including my daughter's toys, clothes, shoes, etc was damaged/lost in the fire, this is such a devastating time for us, as this home, was the home my dad and I grew up in, this home has been part of my family for generations," Garay wrote.
"I never would have imagined me being a victim of such crimes, as we had only been in a relationship for a month, this is very traumatizing, especially for my daughter, asking why we can't we go home," he continued.
Garay said he is asking for help because he and his daughter "need it".
"If you can help my daughter and I get back on our feet it would be greatly appreciated," the doting father writes.
Police were called to the home on the 16000 block of Shepherd Road near Von Ormy around 1:45AM on Sunday (November 20), according to the sheriff’s office.
While in the midst of causing a blaze, Soto reportedly FaceTimed her ex and showed him a chair inside of his home on fire. She also reportedly texted him and said: "I hope your house is okay".
According to San Antonio Express-News, County jail records revealed that the ex-girlfriend is being held on a $164,000 bond.
As of November 28, Garay has raised $11,716 of his goal of $50,000. Donate to his fundraiser here.
