Woman arrested for setting fire to monument for human trafficking victims on Quintana Road Estela Banda, 44, charged with arson, told investigators ‘she was doing God’s work,’ official says
SAN ANTONIO – A 44-year-old woman was arrested Wednesday for setting fire to a monument that was erected in honor of the 53 victims who died in a human smuggling incident over the summer, San Antonio Fire Department Arson Bureau Lt. Noe Saldana said.
Firefighters were called out around 6 a.m. Tuesday to the 9500 block of Quintana Road for an unauthorized burn.
When firefighters arrived, they found a monument burned and damaged, Saldana said.
During the course of the investigation, Estela Banda, 44, was identified as a suspect and an arrest warrant was issued for her.
While she was questioned, Banda admitted to the fire and damaging part of the monument.
“She said she was compelled by the Holy Spirit and doing God’s work,” Saldana said when Banda was asked why she committed the crime.
Banda was charged with arson.
Related Stories: Copyright 2022 by KSAT - All rights reserved.
What we know so far about the Comal County high school shooting ▶ 1:53
What we know so far about the Comal County high school shooting
JCB plant in San Antonio set to be the largest worldwide ▶ 0:56
JCB plant in San Antonio set to be the largest worldwide
What we know about the shooting at Hill Country College Prep HS ▶ 1:28
What we know about the shooting at Hill Country College Prep HS
15 year old student shoots a teacher then takes his own life ▶ 1:56
15 year old student shoots a teacher then takes his own life
No active threat on campus at Hill Country Prep High School in Bulverde ▶ 1:22
No active threat on campus at Hill Country Prep High School in Bulverde
City of San Antonio says Ackerman Road dip under Kirby’s jurisdiction ▶ 1:26
City of San Antonio says Ackerman Road dip under Kirby’s jurisdiction
Atascosa County fire seems like a bad case of déjà vu ▶ 1:28
Atascosa County fire seems like a bad case of déjà vu
New SNAP restrictions affecting some stores ▶ 1:05
New SNAP restrictions affecting some stores
Proposed border wall threatens prehistoric cave art ▶ 1:10
Proposed border wall threatens prehistoric cave art
Adam Caskey has your Weather Authority cold front forecast ▶ 0:12
Adam Caskey has your Weather Authority cold front forecast
Hundreds of millions of dollars lost each year to scams at crypto ATMs ▶ 0:41
Hundreds of millions of dollars lost each year to scams at crypto ATMs
Bank teller and police officer help stop a scam ▶ 1:29
Bank teller and police officer help stop a scam
Family of Matthew Guerra reacts to guilty verdict ▶ 0:20
Family of Matthew Guerra reacts to guilty verdict
Family reacts to guilty verdict in Christopher Preciado trial ▶ 1:03
Family reacts to guilty verdict in Christopher Preciado trial
Verdict reached in Christopher Preciado capital murder trial ▶ 0:56
Verdict reached in Christopher Preciado capital murder trial
Castle Hills police department says the armed suspect shot this morning has died ▶ 0:26
Castle Hills police department says the armed suspect shot this morning has died
How to find accurate TSA wait times at airports around the country ▶ 1:27
How to find accurate TSA wait times at airports around the country
Records show New Braunfels ISD pulling, restricting more books than it has publicly listed ▶ 2:13
Records show New Braunfels ISD pulling, restricting more books than it has publicly listed
Residents hope to stave off light pollution caused by rapid growth of nearby San Antonio ▶ 1:15
Residents hope to stave off light pollution caused by rapid growth of nearby San Antonio
74 year old woman hit crossing South General McMullen ▶ 1:36
74 year old woman hit crossing South General McMullen
Lake Placid and Lake McQueeney are coming back after sitting empty ▶ 2:19
Lake Placid and Lake McQueeney are coming back after sitting empty
New emissions test could cost Bexar County vehicle owners ▶ 0:37
New emissions test could cost Bexar County vehicle owners
Victims’ families sound off on Bexar County DA after accused double murderer gets 50-year sentence ▶ 0:40
Victims’ families sound off on Bexar County DA after accused double murderer gets 50-year sentence
San Antonio attorney admits stealing over half a million dollars from children's inheritance. ▶ 0:33
San Antonio attorney admits stealing over half a million dollars from children's inheritance.
Watch 'Dangerous Lessons' Monday at 9 pm ▶ 0:36
Watch 'Dangerous Lessons' Monday at 9 pm
Previous photo Next photo