Woman told police she did ‘God’s work’

A 44-year-old woman told police that she was “doing God’s work” when she allegedly set fire to a monument commemorating the 53 victims who died in a human smuggling incident this year.

Estela Banda has been arrested and charged with arson. Bail was set at $60,000, according to online court records.

San Antonio firefighters were called to the monument, which is in the 9500 block of Quintana Road, on Tuesday morning for an unauthorized burn. When crews arrived, they found the monument burned and damaged.

The investigation led police to Banda, who told officers that she was “compelled by the Holy Spirit and her reasoning was that she was doing God’s work,” San Antonio Fire Department Arson Bureau Lt. Noe Saldana said.

“This was an important arrest because of the nature of the heinous crime that was committed earlier this year.” Saldana said.