Rochester man charged with Friday murder and arson

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) – A Rochester man was charged with the murder of his estranged wife.

Rochester police responded to a call on Friday night and found 35-year-old Maribel Rivera-Diaz stabbed to death in her car on Suntru Street. Investigators received information that led them to her estranged husband, 48-year-old Juan Rivera.

They had credible information that he was in his home at 98 McNaughton Street with a shotgun. No other people were in the home. After police surrounded the residence, Rivera started a fire in the basement that spread throughout the home. He was eventually arrested when he climbed out through a basement window.

The Rochester Fire Department put out the fire, but weren’t able to save 10 dogs, a rabbit and a ferret that were inside.

Rivera was taken to the hospital with non life-threatening injuries from smoke inhalation and was charged with murder and arson on Sunday morning. He was remanded without bail and will be transferred to the Monroe County Jail when he’s released from the hospital.