Photo: (not the trailer in question)
OAKLAND — A woman has been charged with setting an RV belonging to her mother on fire, which was being used as a family residence. The suspected arsonist was located and arrested five days after the fire occurred last month.
The daughter believed responsible was upset with her mother and decided to leave the RV. At this point, she allegedly threatened that she would set the RV on fire before leaving.
As she was packing her belongings, 32-year-old Diana L. Silva apparently followed through with this threat. She allegedly poured a can of gasoline all around the RV and lit it on fire with a cigarette lighter.
The suspect fled and the victim tried unsuccessfully to put out the fire, before she escaped from the RV. Three dogs trapped inside died before the Oakland Fire Department extinguished the blaze.
Silva was arrested at 9:28 p.m. on August 17 for arson to an inhabited structure or property. Additional charges for grand theft and receiving stolen property were added on August 19.
Silva remains in custody at Santa Rita Jail in lieu of $260,000 bond. Her arraignment is scheduled for September 17 at the East County Hall of Justice.
Prior to this, Silva was previously arrested and convicted for grand theft in 2017. She was sentenced to three years of probation.
Incidentally, Silva is known to use aliases such as Dianna Bennett and Jessica Castro.
