A mom in Orange County, Florida, has been indicted after allegedly intentionally setting a fire in August. The fire killed one of her children. On August 26, 2024, deputies responded to a home after receiving a report of a fire. When they arrived at the home, they found the mom, Esther Thelus, 26, and her two children with burns from the fire.
The mom and her two sons were transported to the hospital, but her infant son later died from his injuries.
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The mom was charged with first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder.
In November, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office said that an investigation revealed that the mom started the fire on purpose. “The woman involved in this incident … intentionally caused the fire, which killed one of her children,” a news release from the sheriff’s office claimed. At that time, authorities did not comment on the mom’s motive or the source of the fire.
Now, authorities say the mom purchased a lighter, a gas can, and gasoline before starting the fire.
Before authorities received the report about the fire, Thelus went shopping at a 7-Eleven store. Surveillance video from the store showed that the mom purchased a lighter, a gas can and gasoline that day, WKMG reported. Store clerk Marie Jean was working at the store when Thelus went shopping, but she had no idea that Thelus was planning to start a fire.
During an interview with WESH, the clerk described the feeling she now has as “PTSD” because “that happened in my store.”
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Thelus was reportedly motivated by 'humiliation.'
The mom’s roommate reportedly asked her why she started the fire. She told authorities that Thelus said, “It’s too much humiliation,” per WKMG.
According to an arrest affidavit, the mom had plans to move to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She wanted to “relinquish [her 2-year-old son] over to [the 2-year-old’s father].” However, when she went to the home of the child’s father, the man asked Thelus for a DNA paternity test.
She reportedly bought gasoline at 7-Eleven shortly after that, WESH reported.
'She’s killing the kids! They are all on fire!' a witness reportedly shouted.
After shopping at the 7-Eleven, the mom reportedly went home and took her kids outside. Then, a witness — the daughter of Thelus’ roommate — saw what was happening and took action. “She’s killing the kids! They are all on fire!” she reportedly shouted, WKMG reported.
The mom was formally indicted on Wednesday, December 11.
In November, Thelus was charged with first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder. At the time, she remained in the hospital. On December 11, a jury in Orange County formally indicted the mom. Her infant died from his injuries about two months after the fire.
