Rental Manager Says Alleged Arsonist Left Cabo Rojo After Fires

Update, January 7, 2025: An Instagram post from @hereswhykevin said that Bertothy was taken into custody, but The Latino Newsletter can confirm that she was not. The ATF has taken over the case and said Bertothy was not arrested. They were executing a federal search warrant on her property as part of an open federal investigation.

SAN JUAN — The American tourist allegedly seen in viral videos burning down three businesses and damaging a hotel in Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico, abandoned the area “the same day she caused the fires,” according to the property manager who rented out a local Airbnb space to her.

“She was our first renter,” the manager told The Latino Newsletter on condition of anonymity. They identified the tourist as Danielle Bertothy, who was originally supposed to stay at their short-term rental in Combate, Cabo Rojo, from December 30 until January 11, they explained. 

Due to a nearly island-wide blackout on New Year’s Eve, the rental manager provided her with a gas can and generator for power. Security camera footage allegedly caught Bertothy with a gas can, throwing fuel on one of the businesses and then setting it on fire. The businesses completely burned down were the Marinera restaurant, the Marea Bar, and Artesanías Juavia. Luichy’s Seaside Hotel was partially damaged.

The manager explained they had already given all the information in their possession to the Puerto Rico Police and that Airbnb told them authorities would need to file a subpoena for contact information associated with the account. The manager attempted to contact Bertothy through the Airbnb platform and through the phone number associated with the account but received no response.

Similarly, calls from The Latino Newsletter to the phone number went unanswered.

Puerto Rico State Police say a “person of interest” has already left Puerto Rico. They have yet to publicly identify the suspect.

When the fire started, the hotel housed about 50 people who only evacuated after one guest started beating on doors to get people out, explained Ángel Luis Marrero, owner of Luichy’s and the spaces occupied by the three burned businesses. Thankfully, no one was seriously hurt.

Shortly before the arson, on New Year’s Day, Bertothy was allegedly filmed harassing staff and patrons at Marea Bar. Staff called the municipal police. However, the authorities only escorted her back to her short-term rental and did not detain or arrest her, Marrero said. A second video shows police laughing while interacting with Bertothy. Meanwhile, a third video shows Bertothy back at the business continuing to harass staff. Staff called police a second time, who escorted her back again, according to a Facebook post by Marea Bar.

“I don't understand why, if a person is aggressive, alcoholic, and disrespectful, they are [not] prosecuted. I don't understand why she came to burn down the businesses. I don't understand why they didn't heed our call. The thing is that in this country you have to live in fear, letting these types of situations pass as if nothing had happened,” Marea Bar wrote on Facebook. 

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Marrero initially thought the fire had been caused by a short-circuit until reviewing security footage that showed the alleged arsonist burning down the businesses. He estimated that damages add up to around $500,000 and have affected the income of at least 15  employees. Although he had liability assurance, the business did not have property insurance, Marrero explained.

“I nearly lost the hotel, my eight-year sacrifice,” Marrero told The Latino Newsletter.

Both Luichy’s and Marea Bar have put up GoFundMe pages to help with the damages caused by the arson. They can be found here and here.

Bertothy Suspended

HLK Agency, a St Louis-based advertising and digital marketing agency, where Bertothy reportedly works, has chosen “to immediately place Ms. Bertothy on suspension pending further information. We are outraged by this senseless act and hope the authorities can address it in a timely fashion” after receiving an open letter from St. Louis, Missouri Alderwoman Daniela Velázquez. The company added that neither Puerto Rico nor Missouri police had reached out to them in connection with the arson.

Citing social media reactions and requests, the St. Peters Police Department in suburban St. Louis published an open letter, claiming they have been in contact with Puerto Rico State Police, who are investigating the arson, but they have not been asked for assistance and there are no open arrest warrants for a perpetrator.

“I want to make sure people know you don’t get away with it. Not on my watch. Not on our [Puerto Ricans’] watch,” Velázquez told The Latino Newsletter. She added that she was surprised the story had not entered national news given how quickly it spread online. (Editor’s note: Velázquez has written opinion for The Latino Newsletter.)

“We have to protect our island and our culture,” she added.

Velázquez explained that she started posting about the incident to social media and reaching out to HLK Agency and St. Peters Police because she felt responsible for advocating to the people she represented whether they’re in the U.S. or Puerto Rico. Velázquez added that she felt hurt seeing the sense of entitlement shown in the footage where Bertothy allegedly burned down the businesses. 

“This case is not going to go unpunished,” Lieutenant Miguel Rivera, of the Explosives Division of Mayagüez, told local paper El Nuevo Día. While they had internally identified the arsonist, they have yet to publicly release the arsonist’s identity.

Cabo Rojo Municipal Police told The Latino Newsletter that Puerto Rico State Police were handling the case. Meanwhile, Puerto Rico State Police told The Latino Newsletter their public relations people would be out until January 7.

“This case represents an unprecedented event for our community and for our island. The sadness and indignation we feel about what happened to our merchants are incomparable,” Jorge A. Morales Wiscovitch, mayor of Cabo Rojo, told El Nuevo Día in a written statement. He also said that they would, “for the moment,” separate one of the police officers implicated in the alleged intervention with Bertothy before the fire occurred until an investigation is concluded. The mayor also said that they would be implementing a new security plan for the area.

The Latino Newsletter reached out to the Cabo Rojo municipal government through their press email, but did not receive a response by publication time. 

Known for its beautiful beaches and nature reserve, Cabo Rojo has long been a budding tourist spot on the island’s west side. As has happened throughout the rest of Puerto Rico, there has been a boom in the number of short-term rentals in the area. The Reuben Brothers, British billionaire entrepreneurs, are currently developing a $2 billion luxury hotel complex near Combate, which several neighbors have fought against because of the complex’s environmental impact on protected land.

About the Author

Carlos Berríos Polanco is a journalist from Puerto Rico covering climate, conflict, and the intersection of the two.

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