Former manager charged in Exotic Tropical Pet World arson

McALLEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Investigators charged a former manager at Exotic Tropical Pet World with arson Tuesday, nine years after someone attempted to burn down the business — and kill more than 20 animals.

The McAllen Police Department arrested Emilio Perez Osoria, 39, of McAllen on Tuesday.

Perez managed Exotic Tropical Pet World in September 2016, when a suspicious blaze ripped through the business.

“The investigation revealed the fire was deliberately set,” according to a probable cause statement filed with the McAllen Municipal Court. “Surveillance video showed an unidentified male break a window, pour an accelerant on the dog bedding, and set it on fire.”

Before the man left, he fanned the flames, according to the probable cause statement, and placed the accelerant in the middle of the fire.

Firefighters rescued the animals, but Exotic Tropical Pet World suffered extensive damage.

Investigators found two 5-gallon containers of gasoline at the scene, according to the probable cause statement. At the time, Perez said he didn’t know anything about the containers.

Surveillance video, however, showed Perez moving two 5-gallon gasoline containers from an upstairs bathroom to another room on Aug. 31, 2016, two days before the blaze.

Perez used a rag “to avoid direct contact with the cans,” according to the probable cause statement.

Investigators questioned Perez again in February 2018. They showed Perez the surveillance video.

Perez confessed to placing the containers in Exotic Tropical Pet World, according to the probable cause statement, and told investigators what happened.

According to Perez, he received a call from a man named Gerardo Lugo, who gave him the containers of gasoline.

Marlen Lopez, who owned Exotic Tropical Pet World, participated in the scheme, according to Perez’s version of events.

Perez “also claimed Marlen offered him $10,000 to help set the fire,” according to the probable cause statement, “though he denied knowing the person seen in the video lighting the fire.”

Lugo was booked at the Hidalgo County jail on Halloween. He’s charged with arson and conspiracy to commit arson.

Court records don’t list an attorney for Lugo, who couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.

Lopez, who still owns Exotic Tropical Pet World, said that Perez wasn’t telling the truth.

“Oh my goodness, no,” Lopez said, adding that she never offered Perez money to burn down her business.

Lopez hasn’t been arrested or charged with any crime.

Perez fled to Mexico in March 2018, two weeks after his interview with investigators, according to the probable cause statement.

Border Patrol arrested Perez in July 2018, when he rafted across the Rio Grande. He pleaded guilty to illegal entry, a federal misdemeanor, and received a sentence of time served.

What happened to Perez after his July 2018 arrest remains unclear.

He was detained at the Anzalduas bridge on Tuesday, according to Sgt. John Saenz, a spokesman for the McAllen Police Department.

Perez is charged with arson, a second-degree felony, and conspiracy to commit arson, a third-degree felony. If convicted, he faces a maximum of 20 years in prison.

Court records don’t list an attorney for Perez, who remained at the Hidalgo County jail on Thursday and couldn’t be reached for comment.