V.S. man accused of killing daughter in car fire dies from injuries, police say

A Valley Stream man, who allegedly locked his 3-year-old daughter in a car and set it on fire in Queens, killing her, has died from burns sustained in the incident, according to police and news reports.

Police and news sources said that Martin Pereira, 40, from Valley Stream succumbed to his injuries at Cornell Medical Center at around 6:20 p.m. on Tuesday.

On May 5, Pereira allegedly doused the interior of his Audi car with gasoline and propane, locking his daughter, Zoey, inside and chaining the doors shut before setting it on fire.

Police officials reported that they had received a call of a car fire near the intersection of 154th Street and Baisley Boulevard at around 8:52 p.m. that evening, and after firefighters extinguished the blaze, rushed Zoey to Jamaica Hospital, where she soon died.

Pereira was reportedly found nearby having sustained burns to most of his body, police said. He was charged with murder, arson and reckless endangerment, but never went before a judge due to the severity of his injuries.

The Daily News reported that Pereira had been locked in a bitter custody battle with Zoey’s mother, his ex-fiancé.

On the day of her death Pereira posted to Facebook a photo of his daughter in what appeared to be a hair salon.