R.I.P. Cecilia Casals
The obits are churning about Don Hewitt today, but I want to note the death of someone who has only been written about as a freak show.
Cecilia Casals, 43, went to the Mall of the Americas in Miami, where her daughter worked, and set herself on fire. She was ablaze for about two and a half minutes, during which she reportedly walked slowly without making a sound. The flames were doused by firefighters and she was rushed to a hospital. But yesterday she died.
According to news reports, she had a criminal history, mental illness and had been desperately trying to get psychiatric help, to no avail.
The very sensitive NBCMiami.com features the headline: “‘Human Torch’ Dies After Mall Blaze.” Is that a class act or what?
The real class act is John Torres who, rather than breaking out his cell phone, injured himself trying to help her.
Liz, I actually had been following this story via Drudge. John Torres, the good samaritan, makes me believe in the goodness of people. It’s very sad. It’s also very sad that two of the luminaries in journo died this week. I shudder to think who the third one will be.
What a horrible story. And the woman taking pictures with her cell phone is a despicable excuse of a human being along with the others doing it. I can understand someone standing there in shock not knowing what to do, but to have to have the reaction to take a picture. What a sad state our society is becoming.
It is sad that so many people are so detached from others that their first response is to take photos on their cell phone rather than help someone in need the way Torres did. His response should prompt us all to think about how to help. Welcome back
thanks. i learned about it on the bottom of my video. but i’ll repost your post under my ‘now viral’ video which you embedded. i do feel sorry for her as well.
Truth be told, Cecilia E. Casals arrived in Miami from Holguin,Cuba in 1999. She struggled as with all migrants especially after leaving behind a 15 year old daughter (named Cecilia as well) with her grandmother. Throughout her 10 years in Miami she worked very hard and as with many Cubans in exile sent a large portion of her earnings back to Cuba for her daughter, mother and a brother who is a doctor now residing in Venezuela. The daughter had just arrived from Cuba just 8 months ago and allegedly what triggered the situation was that she became aware that the daughter was having a romantic relationship with Julio Dominguez (Julito) her current boyfriend although he calls himself husband and father of a 4 year old daughter that she left behind. Yes, she did have a couple of run in’s with the law and yes she was having emotional problems but then who would not having found out what she did. Funeral services were held last night and she was buried today at 10AM and all along Mr. Dominguez alleges they has a wonderfull and loving “marriage” while living together. Court records show that in March of this year she file suit against for child support. “The truth” perhaps will never be know. May she rest in eternal peace.
Then there is NBC Washington’s headline “Human Torch Had Issues Burning Inside” headline. Fucking disgusting vultures.
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