State: Dad stabbed 8-year-old girl before setting home on fire

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Dad stabbed 8-year-old girl before setting home on fire

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published December 28, 2006

LAKE WORTH - An 8-year-old girl was stabbed several times by her father before he set their home on fire in an apparent retaliation for losing a custody battle, authorities said Wednesday.

The girl, Crystal Camacho, her brother, Nelson, 10, and their father, 39-year-old Tony Camacho, died after the Dec. 21 fire that was started with gasoline.

The father and the brother died of smoke inhalation. An autopsy revealed a large shard of a 6-inch kitchen knife blade embedded in Crystal's back. Her spine had been severed, and she was paralyzed.

The medical examiner has not determined whether Crystal died from her wounds before she was exposed to the smoke, Palm Beach County sheriff's spokesman Paul Miller said.

Investigators believe Tony Camacho started the fire in retaliation against his ex-wife, Jennie Carter.

Camacho had recently lost a custody battle with Carter, 37, over the two children. Carter told police he made threatening phone calls to her Dec. 17, four days after their divorce was finalized. A judge had ordered Camacho to move out of the Lake Worth home by Jan. 12, so Carter could move in with the children.

[Last modified December 28, 2006, 05:59:28]

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by Sionann	02/25/07 07:05 AM
So much more needs to be done to protect children in this situation. With stories like this becoming more common, threats made against someone cannot be ignored. As a mother I just hope Jennie will be able to carry on through this enormous grief.

by timeshia	12/28/06 03:23 PM
me basicaly i think he was pyshco for u to kill yourself and your children. i'm not glad he died he should still be alive to suffer and see the pain he has caused his family and the mothers.i hope that she can get over this time of pain.