NEW YORK.- Carlos Diaz, 35, citizen of Dominican Republic, was accused today by the Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., for attempting to murder his wife and his former employer in Inwood last month. The defendant is charged in New York State Supreme Court with Attempted Murder in the First and Second Degrees, Assault, Attempted Assault, and Attempted Arson.

Attorney Vance encouraged anyone seeking help to call his Office’s Domestic Violence Hotline at 212-335-4308.

According to the charges, at approximately 8:05 a.m. on January 16, 2013, DIAZ met his wife, from whom he is separated, in an Inwood parking lot and tried to persuade her to get into his van.

When she refused, the defendant sprayed a fire starter fluid on his wife and then used a blow torch to ignite the fluid. As she struggled to extinguish the flames, DIAZ fled the parking lot in his van and drove to a nearby mechanic shop on 10th Avenue, where he had previously worked.

DIAZ took a gas can from the van and spread the flammable liquid around his former employer’s office and on his ex-boss, but failed to ignite the fuel before fleeing. The defendant then drove to the 34th Precinct, where he was arrested.

Defendant Information:
CARLOS DIAZ, D.O.B. 7/27/1977
Charges:
Attempted Murder in the First Degree, a class A felony, one count
Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, a class B felony, two counts
Assault in the First Degree, a class B felony, two counts
Attempted Assault in the First Degree, a class C felony, two counts
Attempted Arson in the Second Degree, a class C felony, one count