Alyuska Rodríguez, cousin of the Cuban Meliza Campos Sánchez, spoke out in defense of her relative and called for understanding in light of the wave of reactions generated by the disturbing videos circulating on social media that led to the arrest of the young mother, who is 26 years old, on charges of arson and child neglect.
Rodríguez recently spoke with Telemundo 51 during the court hearing in Miami-Dade County and provided details about the mental health issues that, according to the family, Meliza had been facing for months prior to the incident.
His testimony emphasizes a part of the history that the family deems essential: they assert that what happened did not begin with the viral videos and point out that there were troubling signs long before.
Rodríguez placed the start of his cousin's problems in March and revealed that during that period, Meliza even attempted to take her own life.
"Since March, Melisa has been having problems. Melisa attempted to take her own life, but her husband arrived just in time, thank God, and this did not happen," recounted the cousin.
According to that testimony, the husband was able to intervene in time during the suicide attempt.
Later, a friend also tried to help Meliza after she told her that she was suffering from depression and wasn't feeling well, and she took her to the doctor.
The family asserts that the behavior that eventually caused alarm on social media was preceded by months of warning signs related to his mental health.
The request of the cousin to those who have judged Meliza
But Rodríguez did not limit himself to reconstructing the months leading up to the arrest.
He also made a direct appeal to those who have seen the images, commented on the case, and judged his cousin based on what happened.
“He is not in his right mind, and I would like to ask everyone, please, to be humane and to be aware that this 'girl' was simply not using her reason properly,” he concluded before the cameras of Telemundo 51.
With his words, Rodríguez aims for the public's reaction to the images to also consider the mental health crisis that, according to the family, Campos Sánchez is experiencing.
Family members and close friends of the young woman attended the court to support her, while her defense raised questions about her mental state and her ability to face the legal proceedings.
The husband claims that he sought help before the incident
Meliza's husband, Yusniel Cue, also spoke to the mentioned media outlet and stated that he had tried to obtain help for her before the events that led to her arrest.
“The police ignored me, I went to the psychiatrist, they did not pay attention to me”, Cue stated.
He explained that he insisted his wife needed attention, but he claims the response he received was that they could not intervene as long as she did not commit a crime.
“She said that she needed help, that someone should assist her, and what they told me was that unless she committed a crime, there was nothing they could do,” he added.
The husband's testimony aligns with Rodríguez's on a central point: the family claims that there were warning signs and attempts to seek help before the situation escalated into the events for which Campos Sánchez is now facing criminal charges.
What happened on the day of the incident?
On Sunday, August 16, firefighters and Miami-Dade Sheriff's deputies responded to an intentional fire in the kitchen of Campos Sánchez's home, located in the southwest part of the county.
According to the police report, the woman used a stick lighter to set fire to a piece of clothing soaked in flammable liquid while her two daughters —aged three and six— remained inside the house.
It was the eldest girl who extinguished the flames with a container of water.
Authorities also had access to videos posted on Campos Sánchez's social media, where he presented himself on Instagram as the "Realtor without filters."
In one of them, Campos Sánchez poured melted wax onto her three-year-old daughter's hand while telling her, "The fears you're feeling today will be your strength tomorrow."
The girl replied, "That burns."
Another video showed Campos Sánchez setting clothing on fire while dancing in the kitchen of his home and shouting insults at the camera.
The images sparked a strong reaction on social media.
Campos Sánchez was arrested the next day and initially taken to a hospital under Florida's Baker Act, a law that allows for the temporary involuntary hospitalization of individuals who, under certain circumstances, may pose a danger to themselves or others.
She was subsequently admitted to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.
Two assessments will determine your mental competence
The concerns expressed by the family also reached the judicial process. During the hearing, the defense raised doubts about Campos Sánchez's mental competency to face the case.
The court ordered that she be subjected to two evaluations by mental health specialists before the process can proceed.
While those examinations are being conducted, Campos Sánchez must remain in custody.
The results will be crucial in determining whether she is mentally fit to understand the judicial process and participate in her defense.
The two girls remain in their father's custody and are doing well.
It could also face a migration process
The case also has a migratory dimension. Once the criminal process is concluded, Campos Sánchez could face actions from immigration authorities.
The Department of Homeland Security issued a detention order against the Cuban woman under the label "Miami Menace," intending to take action against her once the criminal case is concluded.
According to the authorities, he entered the United States illegally in May 2022.
The next hearing is scheduled for September 11, 2026, when the results of the evaluations are expected to help determine if Campos Sánchez is in a position to continue facing the judicial process.
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