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Local News in Brief : Santa Ana : Man Who Was Set Afire Still Listed as Critical

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A 20-year-old Santa Ana man who was doused with gasoline and set on fire during a family argument on Thanksgiving Day remained in critical condition Sunday at UCI Medical Center in Orange, authorities said.

Armando Soriano suffered third-degree burns over 90% of his body and is not expected to live, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Marcial Vivar Castro, 37, Soriano’s uncle, was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and is being held in Orange County Jail in lieu of $250,000 bail. Police have not determined a motive for the attack, but family members said the two men were drinking and began arguing over rent money.

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One family member told police that Castro doused Soriano with gasoline as he lay on a couch early Thanksgiving morning. When Soriano went to the kitchen to clean himself up, Castro reportedly lit a match near his nephew.

Soriano had worked for a landscaping company since arriving in the United States 11 months ago from Mexico.

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