The demons made him do it.
A tenant busted in connection with a Brooklyn apartment blaze that killed five people made a harrowing confession Tuesday, blaming evil spirits for the fatal fire.
Police and fire sources said the suspect, Daniel Ignacio, 27, set the Bensonhurst blaze early Saturday - igniting a baby carriage at the building's entrance while in a drunken stupor. Then Ignacio, sources said, had a sudden attack of remorse - helping to rescue 2-year-old Josias Chan out of the burning building.
Ignacio, who lived on the second floor of the 86th St. building, has been charged with five counts of murder and one count of arson. He was in custody at the 62nd Precinct Tuesday afternoon.
Investigators believe Miguel Chan handed his son Josias to Ignacio, who was hanging out of his apartment window a floor below. Then the suspected arsonist handed the boy to a Good Samaritan who scurried the boy to safety. Firefighters then rescued Ignacio.
The boy's mother, Luisa Chan, died in the blaze after she helped save Josias and his sister, 2-month-old Maria.
"He's been down on himself," a police source said of the suspect. "He was drinking all day Friday into Saturday, went into the hallway and set a baby carriage on fire. He confessed, but he said he didn't think (the building) would go up like that."
Authorities said Ignacio used a cigarette lighter to set the fire and then tramped up to his room. He took his shoes off, fell asleep and was awakened by chaos.
Ignacio stood out to detectives after the fire. He was constantly outside the Brooklyn building, a police source said.
"He's been everywhere," the source said. "The scene, the church. He's been very accessible to us."
Ignacio has at least one previous arrest for burglary, but does not have a history of starting fires, sources said.
"It's sad to hear it was a member of our own community, a Guatemalan," said Joaquin Cortez, 42, a member of Jovenes Cristianos Church where the Chan family worshipped. "Only God knows what was in his heart."
Ignacio was an occasional visitor at the church.
"Only God knows what was in his heart," Cortez said. "Only God can judge him. What we can do is pray for the families."
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