April 04--The Daviess County grand jury has indicted two men, who were juveniles at the time of the alleged offense, in connection with fires that destroyed unused churches last year on Windy Hollow Road and Macedonia Road.
The grand jury indicted both of the juveniles on two counts of second-degree arson, two counts of third-degree burglary and first-degree wanton endangerment.
Both of the juveniles have since turned 18. Commonwealth's Attorney Bruce Kuegel said because they were under 18 when the incidents occurred, their names are kept confidential until they make their first appearance in Circuit Court to answer to the charges.
The Nov. 17 fires destroyed Mount Zion Methodist Church, at 5074 Windy Hollow Road, and New Macedonia Baptist Church, at 6731 Macedonia Road.
Detective Scott Ingram, of the Daviess County Sheriff's Department, said the fire at Mount Zion church was reported at 9:52 a.m., and the fire at Macedonia church was reported at 10:04 a.m.
Mount Zion "was a total collapse," said Harvey Henderson, fire inspector for the Daviess County Fire Department. At Macedonia church, "there were still some walls standing at that building, but not much more than that," he said.
"At the time, we knew something was suspicious, but we didn't have any suspects," Ingram said.
Later the same day, detectives received a tip that named two juveniles as potential suspects. The caller reported hearing the juveniles saying they had started the fires, Ingram said.
The juveniles were interviewed that day. The first juvenile said he had no knowledge of the fires, but the other juvenile gave a statement, Ingram said.
"They had taken a butane torch and lit one of the cushions on the church pews (at Mount Zion church) on fire, and it got out of control," the juvenile told detectives, Ingram said. At Macedonia church, the juveniles broke a window, and one of the juveniles was able to start a fire on the pew cushions, Ingram said.
The juvenile's statement of what happened at Macedonia church matched the state fire marshal's report of where the fire started in the building, Ingram said. The juvenile told detectives they were able to enter Mt. Zion church through an unlocked door.
The wanton endangerment charges stem from danger the fires created for firefighters, Ingram said.
"We measured, and there was a large propane tank that supplied Macedonia that was 14 feet away" from where firefighters were attempting to control the blaze, Ingram said.
Henderson, who investigated the fire along with the state fire marshal's office, said the buildings were old and had dry-rotted, which contributed to the spread of the fires. Henderson said Ingram deserved credit for locating and interviewing the suspects so quickly.
"I commended (Ingram) on the job he did," Henderson said. "He did some legwork, and it paid off."
James Mayse, 691-7303, [email protected]
Copyright 2014 - Messenger-Inquirer, Owensboro, Ky.
