Full Notification

Suspect:  Maria Elena Zurita, 58-year old female (In-custody)

On Wednesday April 28^th, 2021, at approximately 9:26 PM, Redwood City Police Officers were dispatched to Rise City Church, located at 1305 Middlefield Road, on a report of a fire.  Upon arrival, Officers discovered a planter box on fire, and the fire was beginning to spread to the front entrance to the building.  The Redwood City Fire Department arrived on scene and extinguished the fire.  The building sustained water damage from the sprinkler system and smoke damage.  Video surveillance was collected at the scene, which showed a subject that likely caused the fire.  The subject was described as a female in a blue shirt, with black leggings, carrying a black and white backpack, and wearing a red scarf as a headband.

On Tuesday, May 4^th, Redwood City Detectives developed a possible suspect, and ultimately located the suspect resembling the female on video surveillance.   The suspect was identified as Maria Zurita.  Zurita was in possession of the black and white backpack and was wearing the red scarf as seen on the video surveillance.  Zurita admitted to her involvement in the origin of the fire to Detectives, and was subsequently arrested and booked into the San Mateo County Jail for arson.

Anyone that may have additional information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact Redwood City Police Detective David Denning at 650-780-7141 or the Redwood City Police Department’s Tip Line at 650-780-7110.

This information is approved for distribution by Investigations Division Commander, Lieutenant Casey Donovan, Redwood