North Hollywood man stabs own daughter, self and sets fire, police say

VALLEY GLEN, LOS ANGELES -- A man allegedly stabbed his own 13-month-old daughter to death, then set his apartment and himself on fire and stabbed himself in North Hollywood, police said.

Police and firefighters were called Friday to the 13100 block of Vanowen Street on a report of a fire and an assault with a deadly weapon.

When they arrived they found a second-story apartment unit on fire and discovered a man in an alley also on fire with a large steak knife stuck in his chest. Officers had to use nonlethal force to subdue the suspect, who was described as combative.

The 13-month-old girl, later identified as Rosario Bautista, had been stabbed by the man and was brought to a local hospital by her mother and died there, police said. Police initially said the child was thrown from the apartment window, but later said that was incorrect.

The suspect, whom police believe stabbed himself, was arrested and brought to a hospital for medical attention. He was later identified as Noe Torres.

"There's indications of narcotics involved, possibly methamphetamine to go with the crazy behavior," said Los Angeles Police Department Capt. Steve Carmona.