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Yesenia Espinoza is charged with murder in connection with the death of Houston firefighter Marcela Garcia III
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Yesenia Espinoza is charged with murder in connection with the death of Houston firefighter Marcela Garcia III

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A felony murder charge has been filed against a woman who is accused of setting fire to a vacant warehouse that killed a 10-year veteran firefighter in east Houston, charging documents state.

Yesenia Espinoza, 38, who was previously charged with arson, faces a felony charge in connection with the Nov. 7 death of Marcelo Garcia III.

INITIAL REPORT: A Houston firefighter has died and another was injured while battling a warehouse fire in east Houston

Garcia and the Houston Fire Department responded to the fire on Supply Row shortly after 11 p.m.

Once firefighters arrived, a second alarm was sounded as the fire got out of control, causing a wall to collapse and a day call was issued. Officials said firefighters had to extricate Garcia from the rubble. He was taken to hospital, but was pronounced dead.

Investigators later said they believed Espinoza intentionally set the warehouse on fire with a red light and combustible items.

The suspect was caught on camera leaving the building in a black and white dress and several handbags.

RELATED: First-degree arson charges filed against woman in E. Houston fire that killed firefighter, HFD says

Espinoza was arrested and charged the following Saturday, where her bond was set at $100,000.

Her next court appearance is scheduled for November 25.

Garcia was born and raised in Houston and was a captain with the HFD at Station 8. The firefighter was laid to rest on November 13.

SEE ALSO: First responders pay tribute to fallen Houston firefighter Marcelo Garcia III

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