Husband charged with murder in fatal fire
Published: November 19, 2008
Updated: November 19, 2008
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Police have charged a Woodbridge man with felony murder and arson in the death of his wife in a Monday house fire.
Mario Jennings Jr., 36, of 15281 Valley Stream Way in the Rippon Landing, was arrested on Tuesday, police said. He was being held without bond at the Prince William-Manassas regional jail.
Police said Jennings and his wife, Graciela Letizia Marandino, 31, were involved in a physical altercation early Monday and “she became unconscious.”
Jennings is charged with setting fires in two separate locations in the townhouse while his wife lay injured, Prince William County police spokeswoman Erika Hernandez said in a released statement.
Police said Marandino died of smoke inhalation in the resulting blaze.
Jennings suffered burns in the fire, but was treated at the hospital and released.
A man who lives next door to the couple said he heard a man screaming for help during the fire, but never heard a woman scream.
Neighbors said Marandino was studying to become a veterinarian and worked at a vet’s office in Springfield.
If convicted, Jennings faces a maximum of life plus 40 years in prison on the two charges.
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Reader Reactions
Look at what I’m sayin if the tables turned you would be sayin the same about her. If she done this but she didn’t do it. She is the one who got beat. She loved him enough not to get him in trouble and dealt with it when she didn’t have to. This is why I encourage people if you are in one of these relationships get out of it quick. Because this could be you its not love at all its a maniac waiting to come out. Then it happened after all tho they did find cocaine in his system.
You know the ones who say he loved her is fool of it! You don’t beat the ones you love and also you don’t kill the ones you love. If Mario was a good guy why would he kill his wife? You people might care about him and thats fine. Face the facts he did what he did so get over it he murdered someone. I bet if he was the one who got killed you would be saying something diffrent.
your right none of us were there that night,and theres alot that the papers are not telling,whatever the case may be a life has been losted and familys turned up side down.My heart goes out to Grace’s family and her loved ones no words can express how my family and i feel at this point..Mario is still my brother and i will love him,i will stand by his side and walk down this road he’s heading on that will never change 4 he still is my brother,Weather right or wrong.Justice will be done for Grace he will face his crime,one bad night,bad choices it could happen to any of us,this is not the Mario that many of us know,so befor u judge him no matter what the out come of this is i know in my heart that he did love Grace and for the ones who knew them can tell you that they both were very much in love with each other
I’m thousands of miles away mourning Gracie, along with family and friends that knew her. The shock is so overwhelming and devastating that no words can describe. I knew her since she was a little girl, and have tried all day to honor her by remembering happier times, and her beautiful smile. I pray for Justice, and strength for all her love ones. A precious life was taken from us, and so many more are changed forever…WHY?
I hope something good comes out of all this pain, and grateful there were no more victims.
Why are we so quick to judge? What ever happened to innocent until proven guilty?? Not one person leaving comments were there that night so how can anyone say what happened or be a judge of what should happen next. Try to understand this is not going to be easy for either family what happened to compassion??? I have known Mario for years and NEVER have I seen him act as people are describing him.
we are so quick to judge,what has happen to innocent until proven guilty
Where were the police? Why was he not arrested when they went a half hour before?
My prayers are with her family and friends. I want to know if the police were called 30 mins before this happened, Why would they not have done anything when there was call for a domestic dispute and she was knocked unconcious. I know usually when there are domestic calls with couples they talk to the wife and husband or bf/gf in that situation so they can make sure both parties are ok. So why in this case was it diffrent? If he knocked her unconcious why was he not arrested then?
Grace and I worked in Arlington. She was a Licensed Vet. Technician and she loved her job and the people she worked with. Her family lives in another country, and my heart goes out to them, especially her father. May god be with him and give him the strength to get through this sorrow. She made an impact on so many people and animals. I’ve known her for 6 years and she was a beautiful, smart, lively, talented youn woman who will never be replaced. As for Mario, I hope when he’s in prison that he is treated as badly as she was that night. She DID NOT deserve to be killed and I don’t understand why she was taken from my life :(
my thooughts and prayers are with both families,
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