A woman accused of dousing her one-year-old daughter with a flammable liquid in an attempt to light her on fire took a plea deal and pleaded guilty on Monday, March 13, to attempted assault, after being charged with murder and arson.
Lisbeth Collado pleaded guilty to attempted assault in front of a Seneca County, New York jury.
Collado was indicted with her husband, Jamie Avery Jr, 28, in May last year for several charges, including second-degree attempted murder, second-degree arson, attempted arson in the second-degree, first-degree attempted assault and two counts of child endangerment.
Seneca District Attorney Mark Sinkiewicz said that Collado’s plea deal fully satisfies the indictment against her.
The couple were both arrested last May after a near-fatal attempt on the child’s life at Love’s Travel Stops, a truck stop in Tyre, New York.
Sheriff’s deputies, firefighters, and police officers from various area agencies responded to calls about several fires in the building just after 5:30 am. Responding officers found the fires and extinguished them quickly before they could spread. The fires were reportedly set by Avery.
According to Sheriff Tim Luce, the couple doused their one-year-old daughter in combustible liquid and tried to set her on fire but failed. The one-year-old was treated at the scene and transported to a nearby hospital.
Officers later learned that the couple’s three-year-old boy was locked in the couple’s nearby tractor trailer. They forced their way into the trailer and found the boy with a head injury. The boy was also taken to a hospital.
Authorities said at the time that both kids were expected to make full recoveries. The children were placed in a safe location and police took out orders of protection for both.
District Attorney Sinkiewicz said the couple was married and both children belonged to them.
Avery pleaded guilty to attempted assault last December but is trying to withdraw the plea.
Collado’s sentencing hearing will be held on May 10. She is facing nine years in prison and five years on parole.
