Arson Charge Filed Against Suspect in Calif. Train Derailment that Killed 11

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced earlier this week that it added one count of arson to the charges filed against Juan Manuel Alvarez, who is suspected of parking his SUV on train tracks and causing last month’s deadly Metrolink train derailment.
Alvarez, 25 (dob 2-26-79) was arraigned earlier this week.

The amended complaint charging Alvarez with 11 counts of capital murder and one count of arson was filed Tuesday, according to Deputy District Attorney Patrick Dixon, head deputy of the Major Crimes Division. “The arson charge is consistent with the evidence obtained early in the investigation, and since forensically corroborated,” Dixon said.

The complaint, BA277752, alleges the special circumstances of multiple murders and murder caused by train derailment.

A decision to seek the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole will be made at a later date.