A second suspect has been charged in the May 3 incident at Love’s Travel Stops in Tyre.
Seneca County District Attorney Mark Sinkiewicz said Lisbeth Collada was arraigned on Tuesday in Seneca County court following a grand jury indictment that included Jamie Avery Jr., who was the first suspect identified and charged earlier this month. Avery and Collada face the felony charges of attempted murder, attempted assault, arson and attempted arson.
Related: Attempted murder, arson charges filed in Seneca County after man attempts to set child on fire: Another victim airlifted with head injuries
May 3 incident
On May 3 at approximately 5:33 a.m., police were called to the Love’s truck stop after small fires were reported inside the building. In a news conference on May 4, Sheriff Tim Luce described the situation as ‘chaotic’ when deputies arrived at the scene.
Luce said a one-year-old was found dosed in flammable liquid and the two suspects attempted to light the child on fire. Deputies also found a suspicious device in the men’s bathroom, which was later found to be a makeshift replica and not incendiary. A four-year-old child was found abandoned in the bed of a tractor trailer with a head injury.
Both children were taken to the hospital. At the news conference earlier this month, Sheriff Luce said both children were expected to make a full recovery and were in the custody of Child Protective Services.
Related: Love’s Travel Stops opens for business in Tyre
Next court date is July 27
In regards to Avery and Callada, Sinkiewicz told the Finger Lakes Times, “We believe they are married and the two children are the product of that union, but we do not have documentation to that effect. We cannot even begin to speculate as to why the parents would attempt to incinerate their infant child, and we may never get an answer to that question.”
Avery and Collada were arraigned on Tuesday. Judge Barry Porsch remanded them to the county jail as $200,000 bail, $400,000 secured bond or $800,000 partially secured bond was not posted.
Avery is represented by Assistant Public Defender John Nabinger and Collada is represented by local attorney Joe Sapio.
The pair’s next scheduled court date is July 27.
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