SCHENECTADY — Detectives on Thursday filed a second-degree murder charge against Antonio Bargallo, the 69-year-old who set his wife on fire.

Elizabeth Gonzales, a 48-year-old teacher's aide in the city school district, was flown Saturday to the Westchester Medical Center's burn unit after the fire at her Elmer Avenue home. Police initially charged Bargallo with attempted murder, but Gonzales died the next day and police filed the murder charge.

Neighbors desperately tried to save Gonzales after she fled her house, covered in flames and screaming for help.

Neighbor Claire Morales was awakened by her husband, who heard Gonzales' screams. Morales grabbed a blanket to smother the fire.

"My heart is broken. I really tried to save her – I really did," Morales said Sunday.

According to Schenectady police, Gonzales was able to give a brief description of what happened before she was overcome by her injuries — that her husband allegedly threw gasoline on her and around the home they shared and lit everything on fire.

Bargallo has been in custody since Saturday.

Gonzalez is survived by her parents, two sons, four step-daughters and her siblings, according to her obituary.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 1 p.m. Saturday at St. Anthony's Church, 331 Seward Place. Calling hours are 3:30 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Rossi & Ditoro Funeral Home, 501 Union St.

READ THE FULL OBITUARY HERE.