Actions

Arvada man who set girlfriend on fire at campsite in Clear Creek County convicted of murder

Posted at 9:49 PM, Apr 26, 2018
and last updated 2018-04-26 23:49:47-04

GEORGETOWN, Colo. (AP) — A jury has convicted a 34-year-old man of dousing his girlfriend with gasoline and lighting her on fire at a campsite in Colorado’s central mountains.

John Vasquez, of Arvada, was found guilty Thursday of several charges in the death of Christina Archuleta-Blasier, the most serious of which was first-degree murder.

Prosecutors say Vazquez was arguing with Archuleta-Blasier when he attacked her at a campsite south of Idaho Springs on June 17, 2016. She suffered third- and fourth-degree burns over 60 percent of her body and died about a month later.

Archuleta-Blasier’s two young sons witnessed the attack and tried to rescue her. Her 6-year-old boy was burned trying to put the fire out.

Vasquez, who claimed the fire was an accident, has a history of domestic violence. He faces life in prison when he is sentenced June 19.