A Family of 4 Was Found Brutally Stabbed to Death amid House Fire — and Suspect Was Just Arrested

Fraime Ubaldo, Marangely Moreno-Santiago and their children, 2 and 4, were found dead in their home after an early morning 911 call on Aug. 31

Authorities in New York State have arrested a man in connection with the deaths of a family of four who were found fatally stabbed inside a burning home last month.

Fraime Ubaldo, 30, Marangely Moreno-Santiago, 26, Evangeline Ubaldo-Moreno, 4, and Sebastian Ubaldo-Moreno, 2, were found inside a burning home in Irondequoit, N.Y., by police and local fire department officials on Aug. 31, Irondequoit police said in a press statement on Sep. 2.

“Due to the condition of the bodies it was readily apparent that it was a homicide investigation,” Irondequoit Police Chief Scott Peters said at a press conference on the same day.

Responding fire department officials “found different fires throughout the building,” Irondequoit Fire Department Chief Shane Metcalfe said at the press conference, which was live streamed by 13WHAM.

Last week, Irondequoit police announced they arrested 34-year-old Julio Cesar Pimentel Soriano in connection with the deaths. According to Monroe County Jail records, Soriano, who is listed as Pimentel-Soriano in the inmate roster, was booked on Sep. 7. 

Police alleged in their Friday, Sep. 13, statement that Soriano, a native of the Dominican Republic, entered Puerto Rico illegally before allegedly obtaining fake New York identification. Police further alleged he is wanted in the Dominican Republic in connection with a homicide in 2019.

In a written testimony, WXXI News reports, Irondequoit police investigator Bradley Lape alleged that Soriano stabbed the family members several times in the chest and neck. 13 WHAM reported the same claim, citing a felony complaint.

In the testimony, Lape further claimed police identified the suspect through a video allegedly recorded during the crime, per WXXI News, but did not offer further details about the nature of the video.

First Assistant District Attorney Perry Duckles said Soriano is charged with four counts of second-degree murder, per WXXI News, WROC and 13 WHAM.

Duckles claimed that he believes the killings were not random, WXXI News, 13 WHAM and Spectrum News 1 report.

"I do think there is a motive," he said, per the outlets, later adding: "What that motive is we're still looking into."

Irondequoit Police and the DA's office did not immediately respond to requests for information when contacted by PEOPLE.

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The local community and the family’s loved ones are now reeling from the tragedy.

"Marangely was always a very caring person," Xiomara Weeks, the godmother of the two children, told 13 WHAM. "They're my family. She's my sister; she will always be my sister. They will always be my godson and goddaughter forever."

Weeks started a GoFundMe to assist the victims' family members with next steps.

"I can't refer to her as someone that's in the past, because she will forever be my best friend," Weeks said of Moreno-Santiago, per WHAM 13. "She will always be my sister. She will always be my kids' godmother."

Plea and attorney information for Soriano were not immediately available.

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