Tag: arson

U.S. Congregation celebrates groundbreaking ceremony three years after arson

Published on by Texas GospelLeave a comment

JEFF TURNER

The congregation of the Most Blessed Sacrament Church in Franklin Lakes, Jew Jersey, held a groundbreaking ceremony Saturday for a sanctuary to replace one destroyed by arson in 2019. Rebuilding has been delayed while the church worked out details with its insurance company.

Congregation members have worshipped in a nearby Christian School since the fire.

Construction is expected to be complete by March 2023.

Fire officials in 2019 reported there were no injuries from the fire. A suspect arrested in the case was later found not guilty by reason of insanity and ordered to confinement at a state mental health facility.

Man upset with Virginia church shelter staff sets building on fire

Published on by Texas GospelLeave a comment

A Virginia fire marshal says an arsonist who set a church building on fire this week claims he did it because he was prevented from staying in the church’s shelter with others seeking to escape the freezing conditions. Deputy Fire Marshal Matthew Gearhart said the suspect’s name will not be released until pending charges are filed.

The fire was reported Thursday at the Market Street United Methodist Church.

The church posted on social media that everyone was safe following the fire.

Authorities in Virignia say the man was denied entry because of a history of disrupting shelters.

UPDATE: Seattle police release photos of suspect in church arson

Published on by Texas Gospel1 Comment

 

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

The Seattle, Washington Police Department this week released surveillance photos of a man they say threw lit incendiary devices at a church building during Thursday evening service.

CLICK HERE to read previous coverage

The FBI and the police department are jointly investigating the attack.  No further information has been released.

Teens arrested for church arson

Published on by Texas GospelLeave a comment

Two teens have been charged with arson for a 2017 fire that destroyed the sanctuary building of a Las Vegas Church.  Police are not releasing the names of the two because of their age.

 

(2017 File video story from the Las Vegas Review-Journal)

According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the fire caused $1.3 million in damage to the Zion Methodist Church.

A spokesperson for the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Wednesday said the teens are charged with arson, conspiracy and burglary.

A motive for the criminal act has not been announced.

New Hampshire man gets 25 years for church arson, assault

Published on by Texas GospelLeave a comment

A New Hampshire man who pleaded guilty to setting fire to a Baptist church building has been sentenced to a quarter-century in prison.

Anthony K. Boisvert appeared in Grafton Superior Court in North Haverhill, New Hampshire Monday pleading guilty to nine charges of arson, assault and witness tampering, according to The Valley News.  He apologized to the church, but denied some of the accusations made in a probable cause affidavit, according to a report from the Union Leader.

Boisvert’s sentence is related to crimes committed in 2016 including arson at the First Baptist Church of Lebanon.  Prosecutors say he stabbed two people in an attempt to stop them from testifying.

The Church had been at the location for 145 years. The Associated Press reports the remains of the church were demolished following the fire.

Family members in January told WMUR they believe Boisvert suffers from mental illness and he needs help, not prison.

File video of the fire: