Meliza Campos Sánchez, a 26-year-old Cuban known on Instagram as the "Unfiltered Realtor," was taken into custody in Miami-Dade on Monday, August 17. This arrest came after a viral incident on social media led to charges of arson, child abuse, and negligence, as reported by Univision Miami.
The charges involve her own daughters, aged three and six, who were present in the home during the events.
The Role of Social Media in the Case
The incident gained attention through a video posted by Campos Sánchez herself on Instagram, which authorities cited as key evidence in the arrest report.
In the footage, Campos Sánchez can be seen pouring hot candle wax over the hand of one of her daughters, urging her not to be afraid. The other daughter refused to bring her hands close to the flame.
Her words captured in the video were: "The fears you're feeling today will be your strength tomorrow. Because you are my daughter, okay?"
When one of the daughters attempted to pull away, Campos Sánchez insisted, "You can't be scared! Promise me you won't be afraid of anything. Of anything."
The child's response was direct: "That burns." Before ending the video, the mother asserted, "Nobody touches you two."
The video quickly spread, alarming her followers who urged intervention before the situation worsened.
Response from the Girls' Father
The girls' father, Yusniel Cue, who stated he had been separated from Meliza for about a week, received the hot wax video from friends of the accused and contacted the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office for assistance, according to Telemundo 51.
Arson Incident in the Home
Campos Sánchez's online profile, where she claimed to help "women build wealth and confidence," starkly contrasted with her recent posts, which reflected a turbulent emotional state.
On Sunday, August 16, Miami-Dade firefighters responded to a kitchen fire at her residence on Southwest 95th Avenue.
The police report indicates Campos Sánchez used a red lighter to deliberately set fire to a garment sprayed with a flammable liquid, while her daughters were inside the house.
The video from this incident was erratic and, due to its nature, we have chosen not to reproduce it.
In that post, she lashed out against her ex-partner and several individuals in her circle.
"He knows I'm alone here and joined forces with my enemies. With Denise, my broker, and my former Herbalife mentors. They won't win. Not even with all the money in the world," she wrote.
Addressing Cue directly, she wrote, "I'll be their dad and mom"; and concluded with another statement: "I have children that no one will take care of like I do."
Campos Sánchez is facing charges including first-degree arson, child abuse, and two counts of child neglect without serious bodily harm.
Legal Proceedings and Detention Status
Before being booked into jail, Campos Sánchez was taken to a hospital for a mental health evaluation under Florida's Baker Act, a law that allows for involuntary hospitalization of individuals who may pose a threat to themselves or others.
A judge has ruled that she remain held without bail. Her record also includes an immigration hold.
Campos Sánchez was transferred to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center (TGK) in Miami, with a public defender assigned to her case. The children are currently under their father's custody.
Key Information About the Arrest and Charges
What led to Meliza Campos Sánchez's arrest in Miami?
Meliza Campos Sánchez was arrested due to a viral social media incident where she was charged with arson, child abuse, and negligence involving her daughters.
How did social media contribute to this case?
The case gained significant attention after Campos Sánchez posted a video on Instagram that authorities used as crucial evidence against her.
What are the charges against Campos Sánchez?
She is charged with first-degree arson, child abuse, and two counts of child neglect without serious bodily harm.
What is the current custody arrangement for the children?
The children are currently in the custody of their father, Yusniel Cue.