Suspects Arrested! 

3-8-06

3 arrested in Alabama church fires - Mar 8, 2006

Investigators arrested a third Birmingham college student Wednesday in connection with 10 church fires in Alabama last month, federal law enforcement sources told CNN Wednesday.

Two Men Arrested in String of Alabama Church Fires

FOXNews.com - Two Men Arrested in String of Alabama Church Fires. Police arrested two men Wednesday in connection with a string of rural churchs fires which plagued Alabama in early February.

Photos of men arrested

I found a few photos of the guys arrested for the Alabama church fires. Ben Moseley and Russell Debusk attend ...

Season of Evil 

Why? 

Still looking for answers...

Police: Alcohol use key factor in Alabama church arsons

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) - Three bright college students from privileged backgrounds, charged in a string of rural church arsons that gripped Alabama, may have been fueled by alcohol when they first headed out, authorities said Thursday.

Maps, Photos and Video 

VIDEO: Alabama Churches Unite After the Arsons

2/28/2006 - The 700 Club aired a very good piece on what's been going on with the recovery of the Alabama Church fires.

Video available at persecutionblog.com

Photo Gallery

CNN.com provides a gallery for the Alabama Church Arson Attacks.

Interactive Map

CNN.com offers this map of the church fires in Alabama

Google News Search 

Fetching RSS feed... please stand by

Churches burned on Feb 3 

• Rehobeth Baptist Church in Randolph
  *115 Member Church
  *Predominantly white congregation
  *Destroyed
• Ashby Baptist Church in Brierfield
  *135 Member Church
  *Predominantly white congregation
  *Destroyed
• Old Union Baptist Church in Brierfield
  *34 Member Church
  *Predominantly white congregation
  *Damaged
• Pleasant Sabine southeast of Centerville
  *Predominantly black congregation
  *Destroyed
• Antioch Baptist Church in Antioch
  *100 Member Church
  *Predominantly white congregation
  *Damaged

Churches burned on Feb 7 

• Dancy First Baptist Church near Aliceville
  *Predominantly black congregation
  *Damaged
• Spring Valley Baptist Church near Emelle
  *Predominantly black congregation
  *Damaged
• Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church in Boligee
  *Predominantly black congregation
  *Destroyed
• Galilee Baptist in Panola
  *45 Member Church
  *Predominantly black congregation
  *Destroyed

Handpicked News 

2/28/06 - Investigators find missing vehicle linked to Alabama church fires

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (ABP) -- As they continue to evaluate evidence in a recent string of 10 church fires in rural Alabama, federal investigators have come one step closer to solving the case: They found the getaway car.

2/17/06 - The Next Piece of the Fire Puzzle? Ex-Fire Marshal on Accelerants.

Interesting:

"We plotted out every church arson in Alabama since 1996 and we discovered a potential pattern. The vast majority are near a jagged triangle that Interstates 20/59, 65 and Highway 80 form.

All but eight of the 34 fires are within just a few miles of these roads."

2/8/06 - All 9 church fires appear linked

CNN.com - Feb 9, 2006
Gov. Bob Riley said Wednesday that the nine church fires in rural Alabama during the past week appear linked, as investigators checked out witness reports of two men in a sport-utility vehicle near a number of the fires.

Church burned on Feb 11 

• Beaverton Free Will Baptist Church in Lamar County
  *Predominantly white congregation
  *Heavily Damaged

Relevant Links 

ATF Online - Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

Investigating the Alabama Church Fires.

Alabama Department of Insurance

More info about the fires.

National Coalition for Burned Churches

"As we enter into the 21st Century, churches continue to burn on average at a rate of 15-20 per month."

Title 18, U.S.C., Section 247 -Church Arson Prevention Act of 1996

Prohibits (1) intentional defacement, damage, or destruction of any religious real property, because of the religious, racial, or ethnic characteristics of that property, or (2) intentional obstruction by force or threat of force, or attempts to obstruct any person in the enjoyment of that person's free exercise of religious beliefs. If the intent of the crime is motivated for reasons of religious animosity, it must be proven that the religious real property has a sufficient connection with interstate or foreign commerce. However, if the intent of the crime is racially motivated, there is no requirement to satisfy the interstate or foreign commerce clause.

ATF Threat Assessment Guide for Houses of Worship

ATF Tips to Protect Against Church Arson

Birmingham-Southern College responds to arrest of students in Alabama church fire cases

Two of the men arrested attended Birmingham-Southern College.

Church Sign 

Church sign in South Carolina

I drove by this church sign on Wednesday the 8th of February...

This Call 911 This Church is On Fire

Reader Feedback 

Margaret_Schaut Very nice job dealing with a hard topic! I've done a lense on the Amish school shootings at squidoo.com/amishschoolshootings I'd appreciate your taking a look and giving feedback! Posted October 04, 2006

boredofeducation Your lens is the first I've found with a Comment Module. I think its going to be a fun feature. I like your lens. It's not just a long list of links like some of the top 100. Posted June 08, 2006