American Tourist Arrested and Indicted for Burning Down Puerto Rico Businesses

_{Originally published in The Latino Newsletter–reprinted with permission.}

SAN JUAN — Danielle Bertothy, of St. Peters, Missouri, an American tourist accused of setting fire to several businesses in southwestern Puerto Rico was arrested and then indicted by a federal grand jury from the District of Puerto Rico late Thursday afternoon.

As The Latino Newsletter previously reported, Bertothy used a gas canister meant for a generator left at the Airbnb she was staying in following a nearly island-wide blackout on New Year’s Eve to burn down Marinera restaurant, Bar Marea, and Artesanías Juavia, as well as damage parts of Luichy’s Seaside Hotel—which was nearly full at the time. She then left Puerto Rico for Missouri shortly after even though her original stay was meant to last over a week longer.

“This defendant will be held accountable for her dangerous actions that caused significant damage and put many lives at risk,” said W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico in a media release. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office, along with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners will continue to vigorously enforce federal laws and bring to justice criminals who engage in violent crimes.”

Ángel Luis Marrero Negrón, owner of the hotel and the buildings where businesses once stood, criticized the municipal police’s response, who did not detain Bertothy and instead escorted her to her Airbnb twice after she allegedly harassed staff and patrons of Bar Marea. One municipal police officer has been arrested pending an ongoing investigation.

“We are people trying to get ahead and nobody can come here to not treat us with respect,” Marrero Negrón said.

He hopes that this case will have big repercussions when it comes to how tourists treat and view Puerto Ricans. Earlier this week, another tourist was caught on video harassing police and staff at a hotel in Arecibo, another coastal town.

Marrero Negrón has already started rebuilding the hotel, which he hopes to fully reopen by February 1. Only seven of the hotel's 15 total rooms are currently available to rent. However, he emphasized that getting the money necessary has been an uphill battle because he did not have property insurance. He has opened a $190,000 credit line and a GoFundMe, which has amassed $13,487 of its $150,000 goal. All told, he estimates the damages add up to half a million dollars.

The Puerto Rican diaspora has played a “crucial role” in the whole incident, Marrero Negrón said. Shortly after news of the fire reached the internet, Puerto Ricans on social media identified Bertothy and called for her arrest. The most prominent voice was Alderwoman Daniela Velázquez of St. Louis.

According to the Department of Justice, ”Bertothy is charged with the use of fire to destroy any building affecting interstate commerce (arson) 18 U.S.C. § 844(i). The defendant is scheduled for her initial court appearance on Friday, January 17, before a magistrate judge of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. If convicted, she faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison and up to twenty years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.”