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New Mexico man tries to set disabled wife on fire after learning he doesn’t qualify for coronavirus stimulus

Joe Macias, 63, allegedly pushed his disabled wife to the floor, tried to take her cell phone, pulled her hair, and then poured gasoline all over her as well as the trailer while she was on the floor
PUBLISHED APR 7, 2020
Joe Macias (Albuquerque Police Department)
Joe Macias (Albuquerque Police Department)

ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO: A New Mexico man has been arrested and charged after police said he attacked his disabled wife and tried to set her on fire because he was upset that he did not qualify for a coronavirus-related stimulus cheque. 

The incident came to light after deputies from the Albuquerque Police Department responded to the mobile home park where Joe Macias, 63, lived at around 8:30 pm on Wednesday, April 1, on reports of a domestic dispute, according to Oxygen.

When they reached the scene, they found Macias walking down the street in what appeared to be soiled clothes, and one of the officers noticed that he could smell a "very strong odor of gasoline."

On further examination, they saw that his jeans were covered in the substance and conducted a search of his trailer home, where they found his disabled wife, Gloria Macias, lying on the floor.

Gloria told the police that she and her husband started fighting at around 5 pm that evening when he came home with a four-pack of beer and she could "tell he had been drinking." She said he had been upset because "he did not qualify for the stimulus check."

A criminal complaint filed in connection to the case states that, after finishing the four-pack, Macias wanted to buy more beer and asked his wife for her car keys. When she refused, he reportedly began using "vulgar language" and screaming at her.

She said he yelled, "You’re going to pay the consequences," before slamming the door of the trailer and leaving on foot. When he came back a few hours later, she said he was even more upset and was carrying a gas can in his hand.

The 63-year-old allegedly pushed her to the floor, tried to take her cell phone, pulled her hair, and then poured gasoline all over her as well as the trailer while she was still on the floor, the criminal complaint said.

His wife said he then tried to light a cigarette several times so he could set a fire but that he failed because the lighter was covered in gasoline and did not work.

"The smell of gasoline was apparent from the street of the residence and Gloria’s pajamas and hair were soaking wet when I arrived," wrote APD officer Rachel Cortez.

Macias has been charged with attempted murder, kidnapping, and aggravated battery in connection to the incident and has been booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center.

The Senate recently passed an economic stimulus package of $2 trillion to help Americans that have been hit by the coronavirus pandemic. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said under the relief package, single people earning below $75,000 will get $1,200 as "direct payments" while married couples will get $2,400 and parents $500 for each of their children below 17.

As per the Tax Policy Center (TPC), about 90 percent of the households in the country, which amounts to 165M, would benefit, though Americans will likely not see any checks for at least three to four more weeks.

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