Moorpark husband wanted for allegedly setting wife on fire

Ventura County sheriff’s investigators are searching for a man who allegedly tried to kill his wife by setting her on fire early Monday.

Juan Soria Hernandez, 31, is wanted on suspicion of attempted murder for allegedly setting his wife ablaze just before 4 a.m. in their home in the 11800 block of Broadway Road in Moorpark, said Sgt. Denise Silva.

“The degree of violence that he’s inflicted on her, obviously he’s a dangerous individual,” Silva said.

The incident began with a frantic 911 call from Hernandez’s 29-year-old wife. Authorities said she called dispatchers and said that her husband was trying to set her on fire.

But by the time deputies and firefighters got to the couple’s home, Hernandez was gone, the bathroom was in flames and Hernandez’s wife was outside the home, conscious but suffering from “significant” burns to her body, Silva said.

The woman was rushed to a local hospital where she is being treated. Her condition was not immediately known, Silva said.

In the meantime, authorities are searching for Hernandez, who deputies believe fled in his white, 2005 Ford F250 4x4 pickup truck. The truck has a California license plate of 86644SI. The truck has large tires and a white toolbox and fuel tank in the bed. The U.S. Border Patrol has been notified in case Hernandez tries to flee to Mexico, Silva said. Deputies are also communicating with his and his wife’s family about where he could be.

Ventura County Crime Stoppers is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to Hernandez’s arrest and prosecution.

Anyone with information is asked to call sheriff’s detectives at (805) 384-4744.

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