Man accused of setting fire to ex-girlfriend's home, killing dog

Donald Martinez, 46, arrested after 3-month run from law

SAN ANTONIO – Donald Martinez, 46, has been taken into custody to face charges in an arson case that allegedly had him on the run from the law for nearly three months.

Martinez was booked into the Bexar County Jail on charges stemming from the fire and a domestic assault.

An arrest warrant affidavit stated that he went on a rampage after his ex-girlfriend, Charmia Robertson, called San Antonio police regarding the assault, barricaded himself inside the apartment and set fire to it.

Robertson had already escaped the home, and when police determined she wasn't in danger, they allowed Martinez to remain inside the home, the affidavit stated.

A short time later, a witness reported seeing smoke coming from the second-floor unit at the Castle Hills Apartments on Blanco Road.

Fire investigators determined the fire was purposely set.

The affidavit stated that after he locked himself inside the apartment, Martinez began breaking items and threw out the ashes of Robertson's dead grandfather.

Arson investigators determined the fire was started in two different places inside her bedroom, the affidavit stated. Her dog was killed in the fire.

At the time of the fire, Robertson spoke with KSAT 12 News and said that it had left her and her children without a permanent home.

Investigators were able to obtain a warrant for Martinez's arrest a few days after the fire. However, they did not track him down and arrest him until Friday.


About the Author:

Katrina Webber joined KSAT 12 in December 2009. She reports for Good Morning San Antonio. Katrina was born and raised in Queens, NY, but after living in Gulf Coast states for the past decade, she feels right at home in Texas. It's not unusual to find her singing karaoke or leading a song with her church choir when she's not on-air.