Last night we told you about 27 year old BDF Soldier Rodolfo Martinez - the soldier who died from burn injuries two days after an incident with the stove in his Toledo District home.
But just what happened with the stove, and why? One police report said it exploded when he was trying to fix it - while another said that he had fuel on his body, and when he walked past the stove, the fire jumped to his body and burned him severely.
Tonight, with the help of our friends from PGTV, we have the answer from his mother in Big Falls Village. She said he had come home to help her out with Saturday chores:
Daniel Ortiz reporting
This evening, 3 days after her son's accident and untimely demise, our colleagues from PGTV found Teresa Martinez in emotional distress.
Teresa Martinez - Mother of the Deceased
"That is just an accident, accident. I can't, I can't."
It was an unfortunate accident that neither could have foreseen. Rodolfo Martinez, a 27 year-old BDF soldier, had only just gone home to his home in Big Falls.
Reporter
"Where was he stationed."
Teresa Martinez
"In Cayo because he said they are transferring them back again. They are changing over, and so, he came home. Then, Monday, he should go back to work."
He was getting ready to do yard chores, but he needed to repair the lawnmower to do so.
Teresa Martinez - Mother of the Deceased
"On Saturday evening, at 6:30 my son was cleaning his lawnmower for next day to chop my yard, and he was fooling with gasoline at the same time. I was cooking on my stove, cooking rice. And he was passing by, close to my stove, he get hit on the flame."
Reporter
"So, he was just passing by your stove."
Teresa Martinez
"Yes, just passing by."
Reporter
"So, he was fixing his..."
Teresa Martinez
"Lawnmower."
Reporter
"And he came inside."
Teresa Martinez
"Came inside, but you see, he has to make a curve to come in. He's passing by, and the fire just flew on him."
Reporter
"The fire from the stove."
Teresa Martinez
"Yes"
Reporter
"How do you think that happened? Did he have gasoline on him?"
Teresa Martinez
"I think so because he was fooling with his lawnmower."
Reporter
"Okay, so, he was repairing his lawnmower."
Teresa Martinez
"Yes."
Reporter
"Using gasoline."
Teresa Martinez
"Yes, using gasoline, and right there, my stove caught fire, and him. So, my last option, I just threw water on him. That was my last option. I couldn't do anything, only he and the baby were at home at that time."
Reporter
"So, you threw water on him."
Teresa Martinez
"Yes, I threw water on him to put out the fire."
Reporter
"And after that, what happened?"
Teresa Martinez
"Then, I sent him to the hospital."
Police say that he was transferred from the Punta Gorda Hospital to the KHMH for further treatment, but he passed away yesterday from the burn injuries.
It is a tragedy that's compounded in several different ways. His 2 kids, a 4 year-old daughter and a 9-month-old baby boy will have to grow up without their dad. He was also a newlywed; he got married to his wife last month.
Martinez has been in the BDF for four years.
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