A 49-year-old homeless woman is recovering from severe burn injuries after a brutal attack on April 26th in South Sacramento. The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office has announced the arrest and charging of 34-year-old Jacqueline Popaibarra in connection with the incident.
Deputies responded to the area of 17th Avenue and Stockton Boulevard at approximately 9:30 PM on Saturday, April 26, 2025, after receiving a call to assist the Fire Department regarding a woman who had been set on fire.
Upon arrival, they found the victim suffering from extensive burns covering approximately one-third of her body, including her face, torso, arms, and back.
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Eyewitness accounts revealed a horrifying sequence of events. According to witnesses interviewed at the scene, Popaibarra allegedly drove to the location where the victim was sleeping and initiated a verbal altercation. The situation escalated when Popaibarra allegedly threw an unidentified liquid, believed to be a fire accelerant, onto the victim and then set her ablaze.
Bystanders bravely intervened to extinguish the flames. Authorities report that Popaibarra then allegedly kicked the burning victim before fleeing the scene in her vehicle.
The victim was immediately transported to a local hospital with critical injuries and was intubated for several days, leaving her unable to communicate with investigators.
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Sheriff’s Detectives launched an investigation, and through surveillance footage and witness testimonies, identified Jacqueline Popaibarra as the primary suspect.
In a significant development, detectives were finally able to speak with the victim yesterday. During the interview, the victim positively identified Popaibarra as the individual who attacked her.
Authorities confirmed that Popaibarra had already been taken into custody by the Sacramento Police Department on an unrelated robbery charge. Sheriff’s Detectives officially booked Popaibarra on felony charges directly related to the arson attack.
Popaibarra is currently being held on $400,000 bail.
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