Woman accused of torching ex-boyfriend’s van in Aurora
A 53-year-old Rochelle woman is accused of torching her ex-boyfriend’s vehicle in Aurora Tuesday morning after an argument, according to police and court records.
Otilia Delatorre, of 300 block of Southview Drive, was arrested in Geneva shortly after setting fire to a 2005 Chrysler Town and Country minivan at about 11 a.m. on the 1200 block of Lake Street (Route 31), authorities said.
Delatorre and her ex-boyfriend argued, it became physical and he left her alone in the van, which she is accused of dousing with a flammable liquid and setting it on fire while she was inside and later driving away in her own car, police said.
Aurora Police Sgt. Jeff Wiencek said the 47-year-old Aurora man and Delatorre had dated for more than a year before breaking up.
“The male tried to walk away from it and he looked back to see his vehicle up in smoke,” Wiencek said. “He was not injured. He was away from the vehicle.”
After the incident, a motorist followed Delatorre after she drove away. Batavia police arrested her on Route 25, just north of Fabyan Parkway in Geneva, and turned her over to Aurora police, Batavia Police Detective Kevin Bretz said. Wiencek said authorities contacted other agencies and Batavia police pulled over Delatorre, who had suffered minor burns on her torso and had some charred clothing. She was taken to a hospital for treatment and then the Kane County jail.
Delatorre is charged with arson and criminal damage to property, both felonies, and two misdemeanor counts of domestic battery. The most severe charge of arson carries a penalty ranging from probation to seven years in prison.
Delatorre’s bail was set Wednesday at $100,000. According to court records, Delatorre does not have any previous offenses in Kane County other than traffic violations.