Texas family of 6, including 2 children, narrowly escape house fire set by hooded arsonist while they slept
A Texas family of six, including a 1-year-old baby, narrowly escaped tragedy last Tuesday after an arsonist set their Midlothian home on fire while they slept inside. Security footage shows a hooded figure dousing the porch in gasoline and setting it ablaze just after 1 a.m.
Darryl Wilson, 52, and his wife Wahsheida were home with all their adult children, who were visiting for summer break, when the fire broke out. Their 21-year-old daughter, Malia Rivera, was still awake when she noticed the motion-sensor lights go off. Moments later, she saw flames outside and rushed to alert the rest of the family.
“She came running in and said, ‘The house is on fire,’” Darryl told CBS News. “I thought I was dreaming. She had to grab me and say, ‘No. This is real.’”
While Wahsheida checked their security system, Darryl initially tried to put out the fire using cups of water, then grabbed pots and pans in desperation. Security footage confirmed their worst fears: a man in a sweatshirt had poured gasoline on the front porch and set it alight before fleeing the scene.
Emergency crews arrived in time to extinguish the blaze, and fortunately, no one was injured. But the emotional toll remains heavy.
“We keep to ourselves. Who would do this?” Wahsheida said. “Your intention was to kill us. You have no soul.”
Their 25-year-old daughter, Mylah Rivera, said her greatest concern was for her 1-year-old daughter — and what could have happened if her sister hadn’t been awake.
Since the incident, the family has been taking turns staying awake at night to monitor their home. “We’re on rotation,” Wahsheida explained. “Someone sleeps while someone keeps watch.”
The Wilsons are now planning to move as soon as possible. “My wife and kids don’t want to stay,” Darryl said. “They’re traumatized. As a father, I feel helpless.”
The family is pleading for the suspect — who set the fire knowing people, including a baby, were inside — to be caught and brought to justice.
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