A Miami-Dade mother facing serious child abuse charges will remain in custody after a judge ordered two separate mental health evaluations to determine whether she is fit to stand trial.
Meliza Campos-Sanchez, 26, was arrested on Aug. 17 after investigators say she recorded herself pouring hot candle wax on her two young daughters and setting a fire inside her kitchen while the children were home. Deputies were first called to the family’s home in the 4200 block of Southwest 95th Avenue after a fire was reported inside the residence.
While looking into the fire, detectives found two videos Campos-Sanchez had recently posted to her Instagram account. One clip reportedly shows her using lit candles to drip melted wax onto her own leg, then onto the hands of her daughters, ages 6 and 3. A second video allegedly shows her setting clothing on fire on the kitchen floor while the girls were nearby.
One of the girls later told a detective that she and her sister watched their mother set fire to a shirt, which then spread inside the home while the children were still there.
Campos-Sanchez is now facing charges of first-degree arson, child abuse and child neglect.
Family speaks out
More than a dozen relatives showed up to support Campos-Sanchez at Friday’s hearing. Inside the courtroom, she appeared to smile and gesture toward family members, some of whom were visibly emotional.
Her family says the videos don’t reflect who she really is. One of her cousins, speaking in Spanish, said Campos-Sanchez “was simply not in her right state of mind” and didn’t understand what she was doing at the time.
Her husband, Yusniel Cue, said he had tried to get his wife help before the incident happened.
“I called the police three times about her mental health, and they never helped,” Cue said. “They told me that until she committed a crime, they couldn’t do anything.”
Local news outlets have reached out to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office regarding the husband’s claims and are awaiting a response.
Competency evaluations ordered
Prosecutors had planned to argue Friday that Campos-Sanchez should remain jailed until trial. Instead, the hearing was postponed after her defense attorneys raised questions about her competency.
The judge overseeing the case ordered Campos-Sanchez to stay away from her daughters and to undergo two separate mental health evaluations before proceedings continue. Two doctors will now assess whether she is mentally competent to face her charges.
Her next hearing is scheduled for Tuesday morning.
For now, Campos-Sanchez remains behind bars. The two girls are said to be safe and currently staying with family members.
If you or someone you know is struggling with emotional distress, help is available. Call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or chat online at 988lifeline.org. Additional support resources are also available at SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources.
