Thalia Burke
By Kevin Deutsch
An accused Margate arsonist turned herself in this month after police said she set fire to three sport utility vehicles, then told one of the victims she wanted “to make it right,” court records show.
Thalia Burke, 26, of Homestead, walked into Margate Police Department headquarters March 3 after authorities issued a warrant for her arrest for setting the January 16 fires, according to an arrest affidavit.
Burke allegedly set a 2015 GMC Sierra ablaze at the residence of the targeted female victim, who had known Burke for more than a year through mutual friends, records show.
The Sierra was destroyed by fire.
The flames from the Sierra then spread to the vehicle parked beside it, a 2005 Ford Explorer, fully engulfing and destroying the Ford, police said.
Next, the flames spread to a 2004 Ford Escape, destroying that vehicle as well, the affidavit states.
Authorities said that Margate police officers and firefighters knocked on the targeted victim’s door to alert her to the blaze.
The next day, according to court records, the victim received a series of text messages from Burke, including:
“Please, believe me, I didn’t do it willingly.”
“Don’t give them my name! I’ll go to jail, omg.”
“They can’t know I was involved; I would lose my career if I did it. I swear on earth on everything I didn’t know I did it until I started piecing things together.”
“I said I will give you money for what has been done…I don’t remember doing it, but if I did and there’s proof, than I have to make it right.”
“I don’t remember setting it on fire. I remember shuffling round and driving towards your house.”
Burke and the victim also had a phone conversation that day that was audio recorded, police said.
During their conversation, Burke cried and told the victim: “I caught everything you had on fire, I did that. I f—– up good. I was mad because I lost my best friend,” according to court records.
Later in the call, Burke said she would talk to her ex-husband about sending the victim money, police said.
Burke was charged with three counts of second-degree arson, a felony, and booked into the Broward Main Jail.
Records show she was freed on a $35,000 bond.
On March 4, a separate court action alleging stalking violence was filed against Burke in family court.
It was not immediately clear Sunday whether the alleged victim, in that case, was the same woman targeted in the arson attack.
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Author Profile
- Kevin Deutsch is an award-winning crime journalist and author. A graduate of Florida International University, Kevin has worked on staff at The Miami Herald, New York Daily News, and The Palm Beach Post.
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