A Riviera Beach man is facing attempted murder and arson charges after investigators say he intentionally set his ex-girlfriend’s home on fire while she was sleeping inside.According to an arrest affidavit, Desmond Dyke is charged with first-degree arson, attempted felony murder, criminal attempt and failure to control or report a dangerous fire in connection with the May 10 fire at a home on West 35th Street.Investigators with the Florida Department of Financial Services Bureau of Fire, Arson and Explosives Investigations say Dyke set the fire knowing the victim was inside.The victim, Zeretha, did not want to use her last name or go on camera, but she told WPBF 25 News she was asleep in a back bedroom when neighbors began pounding on her door.”When I wake up, all I hear is people banging on the door,” she said.Video from that afternoon shows first responders rushing to the scene as flames spread through the property.Neighbor Antonio Thompson said he and others were trying desperately to alert anyone who might be inside.”I didn’t realize she was inside. We just kept banging until we got someone out,” Thompson said.Zeretha said that when she tried to escape through the back door, she found herself face to face with the flames.Your neighborhood: Local coverage from WPBF 25 News”I opened the back door. The only thing that happened was like, oof, fire,” she said. “Next thing you know, it’s like, I panicked. I just stood there. I ran out the window, no shoes, no nothing.”She said the fire left her with burns to her face and hair. Zeretha also told WPBF that she immediately told police she believed her ex-boyfriend, Dyke, was responsible. She told WPBF she had been actively trying to get Dyke to leave her alone, and her attempts were not working. Investigators say surveillance footage obtained from neighboring homes showed a man they identified as Dyke walking toward the property shortly before the fire.According to the affidavit, the video shows him entering the area behind the home around 4:13 p.m. and leaving about three minutes later. Fire rescue crews received the first call reporting the fire at approximately 4:21 p.m.Officials say their investigation determined the fire was intentionally set. The affidavit states that fire investigators identified a burned mattress outside the home as the first item that ignited. The affidavit also notes that investigators uncovered a progressively violent pattern of behavior by Dyke toward Zeretha, including an incident in November 2025 and April 2026. Officials concluded Dyke knew Zeretha was living at the residence at the time of the fire.Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.Zeretha’s mother, Bernice, said the ordeal brought back painful memories and nearly cost her daughter her life.”It brought back traumatic stuff, and it really hurt me. I was like, ‘Oh my God, I can’t lose another child. I just can’t.’ This man could have taken her life,” Bernice said.Dyke is being held in the Palm Beach County Jail without bond.The family says the home belongs to Zeretha’s 80-year-old grandfather, who has Alzheimer’s disease. He was not home when the fire happened, but relatives say the damage has been devastating.The family is now seeking help to repair the home and recover from the losses caused by the fire. Zeretha said she lost all her belongings and a place to stay.As for her escape, Zeretha credits her neighbor, Thompson, for saving her life.
RIVIERA BEACH, Fla. —
A Riviera Beach man is facing attempted murder and arson charges after investigators say he intentionally set his ex-girlfriend’s home on fire while she was sleeping inside.
According to an arrest affidavit, Desmond Dyke is charged with first-degree arson, attempted felony murder, criminal attempt and failure to control or report a dangerous fire in connection with the May 10 fire at a home on West 35th Street.
Investigators with the Florida Department of Financial Services Bureau of Fire, Arson and Explosives Investigations say Dyke set the fire knowing the victim was inside.
The victim, Zeretha, did not want to use her last name or go on camera, but she told WPBF 25 News she was asleep in a back bedroom when neighbors began pounding on her door.
“When I wake up, all I hear is people banging on the door,” she said.
Video from that afternoon shows first responders rushing to the scene as flames spread through the property.
Neighbor Antonio Thompson said he and others were trying desperately to alert anyone who might be inside.
“I didn’t realize she was inside. We just kept banging until we got someone out,” Thompson said.
Zeretha said that when she tried to escape through the back door, she found herself face to face with the flames.
Your neighborhood: Local coverage from WPBF 25 News
“I opened the back door. The only thing that happened was like, oof, fire,” she said. “Next thing you know, it’s like, I panicked. I just stood there. I ran out the window, no shoes, no nothing.”
She said the fire left her with burns to her face and hair. Zeretha also told WPBF that she immediately told police she believed her ex-boyfriend, Dyke, was responsible. She told WPBF she had been actively trying to get Dyke to leave her alone, and her attempts were not working.
Investigators say surveillance footage obtained from neighboring homes showed a man they identified as Dyke walking toward the property shortly before the fire.
According to the affidavit, the video shows him entering the area behind the home around 4:13 p.m. and leaving about three minutes later. Fire rescue crews received the first call reporting the fire at approximately 4:21 p.m.
Officials say their investigation determined the fire was intentionally set. The affidavit states that fire investigators identified a burned mattress outside the home as the first item that ignited.
The affidavit also notes that investigators uncovered a progressively violent pattern of behavior by Dyke toward Zeretha, including an incident in November 2025 and April 2026. Officials concluded Dyke knew Zeretha was living at the residence at the time of the fire.
Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.
Zeretha’s mother, Bernice, said the ordeal brought back painful memories and nearly cost her daughter her life.
“It brought back traumatic stuff, and it really hurt me. I was like, ‘Oh my God, I can’t lose another child. I just can’t.’ This man could have taken her life,” Bernice said.
Dyke is being held in the Palm Beach County Jail without bond.
The family says the home belongs to Zeretha’s 80-year-old grandfather, who has Alzheimer’s disease. He was not home when the fire happened, but relatives say the damage has been devastating.
The family is now seeking help to repair the home and recover from the losses caused by the fire. Zeretha said she lost all her belongings and a place to stay.
As for her escape, Zeretha credits her neighbor, Thompson, for saving her life.