California woman accused of setting homeless person on fire
05/15/2025 12:08 pm PDT
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (TCN) -- A 34-year-old woman is in custody on suspicion of setting a homeless person on fire after a dispute.
On the evening of April 26, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area of 17th Avenue and Stockton Boulevard, where they encountered a 49-year-old homeless woman with severe burn injuries. The victim sustained burns to around one-third of her body, including to her face, torso, arms, and back. Officials with the fire department transported her to a hospital, where she had to be intubated for several days and couldn’t talk or provide a statement.
According to KCRA-TV, investigators obtained surveillance footage that showed a car pull over and a driver exit before later approaching someone on the side of the road. The flames reportedly erupted shortly after, and then the driver drove away.
Upon further investigation, the sheriff’s office identified 34-year-old Jacqueline Popaibarra as the primary suspect, alleging that she drove to the victim’s sleep site that night. Popaibarra allegedly began an argument with the homeless woman before throwing some sort of suspected accelerant on her and setting her ablaze. Witnesses helped put out the flames. Popaibarra allegedly kicked the victim and then fled the scene in her car.
Detectives spoke to the victim on May 13, and confirmed Popaibarra as the suspect. According to KCRA, authorities said Popaibarra and the victim knew each other. They noted, however, that the suspect is not homeless.
Popaibarra was already in custody on an unrelated robbery charge. According to Sacramento County Jail records, she now faces charges of assault with a deadly weapon or instrument and arson causing great bodily injury. She remains held on $450,000 total bail.
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