Danielle Bertothy, Arson, Puerto Rico 2025

Grimy Times Exclusive: Missouri Woman Charged with Arson in Puerto Rico

A devastating fire ravaged a commercial building in Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. Now, a Missouri woman is facing the consequences of her alleged actions.

Danielle Bertothy, 36, of St. Peters, Missouri, has been charged with the use of fire to destroy any building affecting interstate commerce (arson) 18 U.S.C. § 844(i). The crime allegedly took place on or about January 2, 2025.

The building, located at Road 3301 KM 2.9 in Cabo Rojo, was a commercial establishment consisting of a retail store, a restaurant, a bar, and a hotel. Bertothy's actions not only caused significant damage but also put numerous lives at risk.

'This defendant will be held accountable for her dangerous actions that caused significant damage and put many lives at risk,' said W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. 'The U.S. Attorney's Office, along with federal, state and local law enforcement partners will continue to vigorously enforce federal laws and bring to justice criminals who engage in violent crimes.'

Bertothy is scheduled to appear in court on Friday, January 17, before a magistrate judge of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. If convicted, she faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison and up to twenty years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Puerto Rico Police Bureau (PRPB) are investigating the case, with assistance from the Puerto Rico Department of Justice District Attorney's Office in Mayagüez and the PRPB-Explosives Unit in Mayagüez.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan Gottfried, Chief of the Violent Crimes and National Security Division, Jeannette Collazo, Deputy Chief of the Violent Crimes and National Security Division, and Corinne Cordero-Romo are prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-pr/pr/missouri-woman-arrested-and-indicted-arson