Woman arrested after allegedly setting unhoused woman ablaze in south Sacramento

A woman who allegedly set a homeless woman on fire in south Sacramento last month inflicting burns over a third of the woman’s body is now facing arson and other charges in the April 26 attack.

Jacqueline Marie Popaibarra, 34, was already in Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office custody on an unrelated robbery charge but was re-booked Wednesday after the victim, now able to speak after days in the hospital, was able to identify her as the attacker, deputies said in a statement.

Popaibarra faces a Sacramento Superior Court hearing Thursday on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, arson causing great bodily injury and mayhem. She remains in custody in lieu of $450,000 bail at the Sacramento County Main Jail.

The attack, late on April 26, came as the woman prepared to bed down for the night in the area of 17th Avenue and Stockton Boulevard in the unincorporated Fruitridge Pocket neighborhood. Officials allege Popaibarra drove to the woman’s camp where she provoked an argument, then doused the woman with a liquid before setting her ablaze. Sheriff’s officials said bystanders extinguished the fire as Popaibarra kicked the woman then climbed back in her car and drove off.

Sacramento Fire Department crews took the woman, 49, to the hospital with burns to her face, arms, back and torso. Deputies said the woman’s burns were so severe she had to be intubated at the hospital and was unable to speak.

Sheriff’s investigators reviewed security camera footage and interviewed the Good Samaritans who came to the unhoused woman’s aid after she was set alight, gathering the evidence they needed to hone in on Popaibarra as the suspect, according to the Sheriff’s Office statement.

Sheriff’s officials released footage that showed the horrific attack. The black-and-white video showed a hatchback-style vehicle pull up to an encampment near 17th and Stockton.

A person could be seen exiting the vehicle and walking around the front of the car to the camp. Seconds later, a fire erupted as several people rushed to put out the flames.

The person then walked back to the car and drove away.

This story was originally published May 15, 2025 at 10:20 AM.

Darrell Smith

The Sacramento Bee

916-321-1040

Darrell Smith is a local reporter for The Sacramento Bee. He joined The Bee in 2006 and previously worked at newspapers in Palm Springs, Colorado Springs and Marysville. Smith was born and raised at Beale Air Force Base and lives in Elk Grove.