Mother and Son Perish in Alleged Arson Attack in San Felipe

Tonight, heartbreak grips Orange Walk as a family mourns and an entire community reels from a tragedy that unfolded in the early hours of Monday morning. A mother and her young son lost their lives in a horrific house fire, one that authorities believe was deliberately set. Thirty-five-year-old Angelita Magaña and her six-year-old son, Tishan Godoy, were among four people asleep inside the home when an intruder allegedly broke in and started the blaze. Angelita’s daughter and her common-law husband, Miguel Novelo, managed to escape with their lives, but Angelita and little Tishan never made it out. Police say the man accused of this unthinkable act is Angelita’s former common-law husband, Francisco Godoy. He was found injured at the scene and is now in custody.

 

Britney Gordon, Reporting

Just four days ago, thirty-five-year-old Angelita Magaña, her two children, and her common-law husband, Miguel Novelo, moved into a brand-new home in San Felipe Village, Orange Walk. It was supposed to be the start of a fresh chapter, a dream come true for this family. But that dream turned into a nightmare when, in the early hours of Monday morning, their home was swallowed by flames. Angelita and her six-year-old son, Tishan Godoy, never made it out alive. Today, that house is nothing more than charred wood and ash, a haunting reminder of what was lost. Assistant Superintendent of Police Stacy Smith shares more details on this painful incident.

 

ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer

“Officers also observed three persons, namely Francisco Godoy, Miguel Novelo and Shania Magania, who had varying degrees of burns to their bodies. The responding officers ere also advised that two persons, namely Angelita Magana, thirty-five years of age and her son, six-year-old Tishan Godoy were still inside the structure, which at that time, was still engulfed in flames. Shadia Magana, Francisco Novelo, as well as Gody were escorted to the hospital for treatment where both Shadia Magana and Fracisco Godoy are now listed in a critical condition and Mr. Novelo has been released. When the fire was extinguished from the structure, the bodies of Angelita Magana and Tishan Godoy were discovered.”

 

We’re learning more about the man accused of setting that deadly fire. Police say Angelita Magaña’s former common-law husband, Francisco Godoy, was also injured during the incident. Investigators believe he’s the one who started the blaze in the early hours of the morning. And here’s what’s even more troubling, authorities confirm Godoy had recently served time for domestic violence charges against Magaña. Tonight, he’s in custody as police piece together what led to this horrific act.

 

ASP Stacy Smith

“Mister Godoy has been charged before in relation to an offence against Ms. Magana, namely harm and he was convicted. As a matter of fact, it was just last week Thursday, I’ve been advised that he was released, having pled guilty to the harm against Ms. Magana. I’ve also been advised that Ms. Magana sought to obtain a restraining order on Friday, however due to the time that she reached the courthouse, this was not able to have been facilitated.”

 

According to neighbors, the flames grew quickly, and they were fearful that they would spread as it took over an hour for fire personnel to arrive at the scene. One neighbor, Ramiro Gonzalez, says the entire community sprang into action when they realized people were trapped inside. He recalls the desperate effort to save lives as flames tore through the home.

 

Ramiro Gonzalez, Neighbor

“When I come out, I see my neighbor try to do something to get the fire out. There is a boy named Leon there that used to work with my neighbor. So this boy he saved the gyal life. I think he’s a hero. He only saved the girl. My neighbor tried to get the next baby and the woman but the house catch on big fire.”

 

Although Godoy has been taken into police custody as a prime suspect, police say that the investigation is still underway. Following his release on October seventeenth, Magaña had attempted to file a restraining order against Godoy, however, the courts had already closed for the day. Smith said that there was only a brief window of opportunity for Godoy, one that may have made this incident possible.

 

ASP Stacy Smith

“In a situation where there exists a level of fear from a woman, the prudent thing would be to report it to the station and intervention would be done by the part of the police officers. In this scenario, I think what would have been the ideal situation at hand was for a revocation of his high court bail. I think the only reason why there may have been a gap that allowed him to be on the street, and as you can see it was a very narrow window, was because at the time that he went to court on Thursday, he was remanded from April up until recent times so I don’t believe that steps would have been made to have his high court bail revoked given that he was already remanded for another incident. So it just so happen, and unfortunately so, that the situation created a window for him and he took advantage of it.”

 

The family had only recently moved into the neighborhood, so many residents didn’t know Angelita well. Still, the community is deeply mourning her loss, and that of six-year-old Tishan. This morning, St. Michael R.C. School held a small memorial in remembrance of the young student.

 

Ramiro Gonzalez

“I’m still in shock now. I feel like that’s my family, that’s my neighbor but I put my heart on that family right now. Like I said, this little boy, Leon, that’s a hero for me and if someone can see me now in San Felipe village, if you can put your hearts to these people now, that would be very nice.”

 

The Ministry of Public Service, Governance, and Disaster Risk Management has since extended condolences to the family and commended the National Fire Service and first responders who assisted at the scene. The family of Angelita Magaña is now making a heartfelt plea to the public to assist with the funeral expenses and medical care for Magaña’s daughter who remains hospitalized. Britney Gordon for News Five.