Bronx, New York City Woman Pleads Guilty to Customer's Fiery Death

March 2, 2005
A Bronx woman admitted yesterday she killed a client who came to her for a Santeria-like cleansing ritual - which went horribly wrong when the victim burst into flames.
March 2, 2005 -- A Bronx woman admitted yesterday she killed a client who came to her for a Santeria-like cleansing ritual - which went horribly wrong when the victim burst into flames.

Mildred Sanchez, 62, pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide in Bronx Supreme Court for last year's death of Minerva Perez.

Perez, 32, had gone to Sanchez's home for the ritual in February 2004 because she was depressed about problems with a boyfriend.

The naked victim was holding a candle while soaking in a tub of flammable liquid when the liquid ignited, engulfing her in flames.

She was burned over most of her body and pronounced dead at the scene.

Sanchez - who was burned when she tried to put out the fire with her hands

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