Las Vegas home ‘maliciously ignited,’ victim alleges arsonist texted her

Editor’s Note: This article has been edited, and a video was deleted to remove an individual’s name because of a safety concern.

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Video shows an alleged arsonist walking down the driveway moments before a Las Vegas home burst into flames. The homeowner said she received texts from the suspect describing his plan to start the fire.

On Aug. 14, neighbors at the 7900 block of Boardwalk Way called 911 around 5 p.m. as they saw smoke rise from a home garage on their street and a motorcycle pull away from the address, according to residents who spoke to 8 News Now.

The afternoon fire was also captured on the video system. The homeowner told police text messages were received from Jesse Ruiz, 46, stating he was going to set her house on fire.

The homeowner spoke with 8 News Now over the phone, expressing concern over safety.

Clark County Fire responded to an 8 News Now request via email and wrote no one was injured in the house fire, but several animals were displaced.

“The fire caused an estimated $100,000 in damages,” a Clark County Fire spokesperson wrote. “And is being investigated as incendiary fire that is believed to have been maliciously ignited.”

Valerie DiMaggio, owner of West Coast Tattoo Parlor, said the homeowner reached out about the texts. DiMaggio said she had recently fired Ruiz from his job as a tattoo artist following a pay dispute.

“He lost his job with us a few days before the fire,” DiMaggio said. “I know everyone wants me to say he’s a monster, but he was never this way, he used to be a very good person.”

Following the fire report, DiMaggio said she was upset when she learned the homeowner and pets were displaced from the fire and offered to help.

“We did start a GoFundMe, and for the next week, every single tattoo that we do, a portion of it, is going to go to that GoFundMe to help this family,” she said. “We want to help in any way we can, and we are so sorry that this has happened. It’s horrible.”

The homeowner alleged Ruiz released their dogs from the house before the fire, but the cats were left inside. DiMaggio said two of the cats died following the fire.

Documents obtained by 8 News Now indicate Las Vegas Metropolitan Police issued an arrest warrant seeking a suspect in connection to the home fire and made an arrest on Saturday in connection with the same incident. District Court documents show Ruiz was arrested Saturday and charged with one felony count of arson and one count of domestic battery; he is held on a $150,000 bail.

Ruiz appeared for an initial court appearance on Monday where he pleaded not guilty to both charges. He is expected to appear on Sep. 9 for a preliminary hearing, according to court documents.

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