Suspect in 7-Eleven fire arraigned again after woman dies from burns

CHULA VISTA, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) — The man arrested in connection to a fire at a Chula Vista 7-Eleven last month is now facing murder charges after the 44-year-old woman critically burned in the incident died at the hospital.

Jose Carlos Villanueva, 47, was arrested on suspicion of premeditated attempted murder and arson, among other charges, on Saturday, Aug. 24 following the fire at the convenience store. Two store employees were severely injured in the incident.

Villanueva pleaded not guilty to the original felony charges late last month. However, he was arraigned again in a South Bay courtroom on updated counts Friday following the death of one of the two employees, Amanda Buchanan.

The 47-year-old pleaded not guilty to the revised charges, which included murder with the special circumstances of lying in wait, mayhem and torture; arson; and assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury.

According to Chula Vista police, Villanueva was taken into custody hours after the fire occurred at the 7-Eleven in the 800 block of Broadway late last month.

Authorities were first notified of the incident around 8:12 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 24. Upon arrival, officers found the inside of the convenience store filled with smoke and an employee walking out of the building with burn injuries, CVPD said at the time.

Officers then heard a voice coming from inside the burning building, prompting them to run inside. A second victim, who was later identified as Buchanan, was discovered with severe burns.

First responders were able to remove Buchanan from the building, as she was unable to walk on her own. She was later transported to the hospital for treatment, but succumbed to her injuries about a week later, on Aug. 29.

Preliminary information from the investigation identified Villanueva as the likely suspect in the fire. According to CVPD, Buchanan and Villanueva previously dated at a point before the fire.

The 47-year-old was arrested after the suspect vehicle, which fled the scene after the fire began, was picked up on Automated License Plate Readers near a gas station in Redland, California — about 100 miles away from the convenience store.

Villanueva, who has two previous felony convictions, is being held without bail pending trial, according to court records.

Should he be convicted on all charges, he could face the death penalty — although California does not carry out this punishment — or life without parole.

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