Man charged with arson, murder in Deerfield Beach fire that killed woman, her dog

A man has been detained on murder and other charges in connection with the arson fire that destroyed a Deerfield Beach home and killed a lady and her dog, according to authorities. According to the Broward Sheriff’s Office, 41-year-old Genivaldo Gomes Moreira was arrested Sunday night and suspected of starting the fire that killed Ana Paula Ribeiro De Souza, 54. Battalion Chief Michael Kane stated that when Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue firefighters arrived at the site at Northwest 43rd Street and Northwest 4th Avenue around 4:30 a.m. Friday, they found heavy smoke and flames coming from one side of the duplex.

Kane stated that as firemen battled the fire, they discovered the victim dead in a back bedroom. Officials and family members recognized the victim as de Souza, a mother of four. Daughter Kimberly Silva claimed she received a frantic phone from a family member on Friday morning notifying her of the fire. “I ran to my mother’s house and saw flames and fire everywhere,” said Silva, who described her mother as devout in her faith. “Devastated. She did not deserve this. Her life consisted of going to church and coming home to be with her children.

Silva also revealed that her mother had a turbulent relationship with her ex-boyfriend, whom she had just been dating for six months. She stated that the boyfriend’s whereabouts were unknown. “I want justice for my mother because she did not deserve to die that way. Officials and family members recognized the victim as de Souza, a mother of four. Daughter Kimberly Silva said she received a panicked call from a friend. According to how they discovered her, she was not entirely burned. However, the evidence that they observed at the time indicated that she had been murdered prior to the fire,” Silva explained.

The family next to the burning unit escaped, and the fire was extinguished in approximately 20 minutes, according to Kane. Despite the fact that fire workers had left, the Broward Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives resumed their investigation. Homicide detectives identified Gomes Moreira as the suspect after conducting an investigation, and an arrest warrant was obtained, according to officials. Officials stated he fled the scene in a gold 2002 Saturn. Law enforcement authorities apprehended him in Manatee County. He’s anticipated to be extradited to Broward County. Gomes Moreira is charged with one count of felony homicide, arson, and animal cruelty.