Man Who Says He Tried To Save Parents, Sister From Fire Is Charged In Case

A San Diego man was arrested in connection with a house fire that killed his parents and sister and left two of his other siblings injured. 26-year-old Wilber Romero told police that he desperately tried to save his family members from the flames.

The fire broke out early Sunday (October 13) morning, and Romero claimed that his dogs woke him up as flames engulfed his home.

"My dogs were jumping on me, trying to wake me up. I woke up. When I woke up, my bed was on fire. I jumped out of bed and started screaming the house is on fire," he told KGTV.

Investigators questioned Romero about the fire but released him and initially said they did not believe the fire was started intentionally.

The day before he was arrested, Romera spoke with KFMB-TV and pushed back at the suggestion that he was responsible for starting the fire.

"You can lock me up, but you're not going to take me in for me to say this: 'I did it,'" he said. "I'm not going to say it because I didn't do it."

Authorities did not release new details about the fire or explain why they believe Romero was responsible for starting it. He was charged with arson, three counts first-degree murder, and two counts attempted first-degree murder. He is being held without bond until his first court appearance, which is scheduled for October 22. 5

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