Man guilty of murder for dousing girlfriend in gas, lighting her on fire

Victim suffered third-degree burns over 60 percent of her body

A Clear Creek County jury found a 34-year-old man guilty of murder Thursday for dousing his girlfriend in gasoline and lighting her on fire at a backcountry campsite.

John Vasquez of Arvada was convicted of multiple charges, including assault causing serious bodily injury, child abuse causing serious bodily injury and arson, after a four-week trial, according to the district attorney’s office.

The victim, Christina Archuleta-Blasier, suffered third-degree burns over 60 percent of her body in the June 2016 attack in the Arapahoe National Forest south of Idaho Springs.

She was flown by helicopter to University Hospital in Aurora in critical condition and died just over a month later, on July 20, 2016.

Two of her sons, who were on the camping trip, witnessed the horrific crime.

“We are happy to receive justice for Christina today,” District Attorney Bruce Brown said in a news release.

“This case was an example of incredible teamwork of so many in the first responder community and the tenacity of Christina’s family to see through so many court hearings and a lengthy trial. We are gratified for this result but continue to mourn the loss of a beautiful woman.”

One of the boys, age 6 at the time, suffered severe burns on his hands as he frantically attempted to put the fire out. He has since recovered. Both boys recounted the horror of the early-morning murder during trial proceedings, prosecutors said.

An argument between the victim and Vasquez, about his drinking alcohol, a violation of a court order, during the camping trip lead to her gruesome death.

Vasquez had laughed while Archuleta-Blasier burned and suffered, according to an arrest warrant affidavit.

Vasquez faces mandatory life imprisonment at a sentencing hearing scheduled for June 19.