Midlothian, TX — A Texas family of six, including a 1-year-old, narrowly escaped their home last Tuesday after an arsonist doused their porch in gasoline and set it aflame while they were asleep, according to security footage obtained by authorities.
Dramatic Escape from Burning Home
Darryl Wilson, 52, and his wife, Wahsheida, were hosting all their adult children for summer break when a hooded suspect ignited the fire in the early morning hours. Their 21-year-old daughter, Malia Rivera, who was still awake, noticed the motion-sensor lights and rushed downstairs. By the time she arrived, flames were already threatening the living room.
“She came running in there, and she said, ‘The house is on fire. I looked at her. I said, ‘Okay, I’m dreaming.’ I laid back down. She grabbed me — ‘No. No. The house is on fire,’” Darryl told CBS News.
Wahsheida added, “I was shocked. I’m like, this can’t be real. Who would do this? Like, we keep to ourselves.”
Family Attempts to Extinguish Fire
The frantic father first tried two cups of water before using heavy-duty pots and pans to fight the flames. Meanwhile, Wahsheida checked the home’s security footage, which revealed the suspect dumping gasoline on the porch before fleeing.
“Your intentions when you came and threw gas on the house and lit that fire. Your intentions was to kill us. Like, you have no soul. You’re a heartless person,” Wahsheida seethed to the outlet.
The blaze was eventually extinguished by responding emergency crews, and all family members were accounted for with no injuries, though the family remains traumatized.
Precautionary Measures and Trauma
Their 25-year-old daughter, Mylah Rivera, worried especially about her 1-year-old daughter and the potential consequences if Malia hadn’t been awake. The family now sleeps in shifts, ensuring someone is always watching:
- Rotation system at night to monitor windows and security cameras
- Constant vigilance to prevent further harm
“We’re on rotation, just staying up at night. Looking out the windows, looking on the camera. We’re on rotation. Someone sleeps, someone gets up to be on watch,” Wahsheida said.
Darryl added, “My kids don’t want to stay. My wife doesn’t want to stay. You know, they’re traumatized. It’s a hurting thing for someone to come to my home and do that. And I feel helpless as a father.”
The family hopes the “sociopath” who targeted their home, aware that children were inside, is apprehended and prosecuted.
What are your thoughts on this terrifying incident? Let us know in the comments.
