Tiffanie Vazquez (Photo courtesy of Baxter County Sheriff’s Office)
A Gamaliel woman is facing four counts of first-degree criminal attempt to commit murder after she was allegedly caught on video admitting to her role in a house fire over a year ago. Thirty-eight-year-old Tiffanie Vazquez, formerly known as Tiffanie Cortez, was also booked into the Baxter County Detention Center Tuesday on a felony count of arson and on a habitual offender penalty enhancement.
According to Baxter County Sheriff John Montgomery, fire departments were dispatched Jan. 30, 2023, to a residential structure fire at 4333 Arkansas Highway 101 North in the Gamaliel area. The residence was occupied by three adults and one juvenile, and one of the adults was disabled. The fire reportedly started in the carport or porch area. The occupants were able to escape the blaze, but the house and two vehicles were total losses, and another vehicle was damaged. The fire was listed as suspicious, and the total loss was valued at nearly $110,000.
On Jan. 25, a man claiming to be an acquaintance of Vazquez says he was approached by her at a Gamaliel business. She reportedly told the male she had paid someone $500 to burn down the house because someone who lived there was stealing from her and the people she stayed with and never paid her back. The man says he asked Vazquez why she told him, and she reportedly said the case and the investigation were closed.
The male claims he then gave Vazquez a ride, and another person in the vehicle started recording video of her. Vazquez allegedly repeated her claim of her $500 payment and said she was in Little Rock on the night of the fire. She also reportedly said she received a call afterwards telling her that her problem had been taken care of. Vazquez then offered additional information and details, including by text messaging.
Charges were filed against Vazquez after information was presented to the 14th Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. A warrant was issued for her arrest Friday, and she was located four days later at a residence on Fout Road in Gamaliel and taken into custody without incident.
Vazquez is being held in lieu of $250,000 bond and will appear before the Baxter County Circuit Court. She has at least 13 prior jail bookings in Baxter County on various charges.
The investigation is ongoing. The Baxter County Sheriff’s Office has been assisted by the Arkansas Community Corrections Special Response Team, the 14th Judicial District Drug Task Force, the Arkansas State Police and the U. S. Marshal Service.
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