At approximately 9:30 PM on Saturday, April 26, 2025, Central Division Patrol Deputies responded to the area of 17th Avenue and Stockton Boulevard in South Sacramento, to assist Fire Department personnel for a report of a woman who had been set on fire. Deputies arrived on scene and observed the victim, a 49-year-old homeless woman, suffering from severe burn injuries. Fire Department personnel transported the victim to the hospital. The victim had burns to approximately 1/3 of her body, including her face, torso, arms, and back. Once at the hospital, she was intubated for several days, where she was unable to speak or provide a statement.

Deputies interviewed several witnesses at the scene, who saw the incident and helped extinguish the victim when she was on fire. Sheriff’s Detectives began their investigation and identified the suspect as 34-year-old Jacqueline Popaibarra. 

After reviewing surveillance video and speaking to witnesses, they learned that Popaibarra drove to where the victim had set up to sleep for the night and began a verbal argument. She then threw an unknown liquid (believed to be a fire accelerant of some sort) onto the victim, then set her on fire. Bystanders helped put out the fire, when Popaibarra began to kick the victim before fleeing in her vehicle.

Detectives were finally able to speak to the victim yesterday, who positively identified Popaibarra as her assailant. The Sacramento Police Department had since arrested Popaibarra on an unrelated robbery charge, and Sheriff’s Detectives add booked her yesterday for felony charges related to this incident. She is currently in custody on $400,000 bail for this arrest and is scheduled to appear in court tomorrow.

Sergeant Amar Gandhi
Sheriff’s Spokesman
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