GUILTY LA - Suspicious blazes destroy three predominantly black Louisiana churches, 2019 *arrest*

[Wagtales10]

Suspicious blazes destroy three predominantly black Louisiana churches - Reuters

Federal and state officials in Louisiana are investigating suspicious fires that destroyed three predominantly black churches in 10 days in one mostly rural parish, authorities said on Saturday.

Investigators have not concluded whether the three fires at Baptist churches in St. Landry Parish, about 100 miles (160 km) northwest of New Orleans, were connected, said Ashley Rodrigue, a spokeswoman for the Louisiana Fire Marshall’s Office.

They also have not determined whether the blazes, which occurred between March 26 and Thursday, were intentionally set, she said in an email. At a news conference on Thursday, State Fire Marshall Butch Browning was asked if investigators were treating the fires as potential hate crimes.

 

[GarAndTeed]

OMG-this is horrible! Are we regressing back to the 50s & early 60s? I so wish these things were history, but I'm afraid they never will be completely...

 

[Trudie]

This is so wrong.
I caught bits & pieces on HLN today.
Imagine the fear people are living with.
Moo

 

[BayouBelle_LA]

Fires consume three black churches in 10 days in one Louisiana parish, all under suspicious circumstances

In one parish, three churches burn in 10 days
The first fire occurred March 26 at St. Mary Baptist Church in Port Barre. Greater Union burned on Tuesday and Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, also in Opelousas, suffered a fire on Thursday.

"We believe these three fires are suspicious," Browning said. "We are falling short of talking about what caused the fires, falling short of saying they are related, however cognizant that there is a problem and no coincidence that there are three fires."

The FBI and federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were assisting in the investigations.

"It's imperative that the citizens of this community be part of our effort to figure out what it is," Browning said.

 

[Tripod]

OMG-this is horrible! Are we regressing back to the 50s & early 60s? I so wish these things were history, but I'm afraid they never will be completely...

I don't believe there's any reason or evidence to suggest our society is regressing in that manner. Let's wait and see what the investigations uncover, and pray for these churches to be rebuilt even stronger IMO, though I will add that our culture as a whole has declined horribly, across all spectrums, from my aging, personal vantage point

 

[Wagtales10]

https://nypost.com/2019/04/10/deput...tion-to-fires-at-historically-black-churches/

The son of a Louisiana sheriff’s deputy was arrested Wednesday in connection to a series of arson attacks that went down at three historically-black churches in the span of just 10 days.

Authorities in St. Landry Parish took 21-year-old Holden Matthews — son of a St. Landry Parish Deputy Roy Matthews — into custody around 5:30 p.m. following a joint investigation by the state’s Fire Marshal’s Office and FBI, KATC-TV reports.

Cops have refused to release any information about Matthews, who is white, or a possible motive, but sources told the local television station that the fires appeared to have been intentionally set.

 

[The 13th]

Holden Matthews: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know | Heavy.com

Holden Matthews is in custody in connection with three recent fires at historically black churches in Louisiana - - -

Authorities have scheduled a press conference for Thursday, April 11, to reveal more details about the investigation.
- - -
The investigation into the fires has been led by the Louisiana State Fire Marshal’s office, along with local, state and federal investigators, including the FBI and ATF.
- - -
Here is what we know so far about Holden Matthews and the fires:

1. Holden Matthews Was Arrested April 10 & Is the Son of St. Landry Parish Deputy Roy Matthews

- - -
2. Matthews Is From Opelousas, Louisiana, & Says on Facebook He Is the Singer in a Band

the lead singer and songwriter of a band called Vodka Ventures.

- - -
Daily Beast noted that on Facebook, Matthews had commented on two memes about Varg Vikernes, a self-described former neo-Nazi metal musician. Vikernes was in prison for 15 years for burning down three Christian Norway churches and fatally stabbing another guitarist. Vikernes claimed the stabbing was in self-defense and denied the arsons, but said he supported them. He moved to France with his wife and children after he was released from prison and announced the end of his one-man music project in 2018.

3. Holden Matthews’ Father Turned Him in to the Authorities, After Three Historically Black Churches in Lousiana Were Destroyed

CBS News reports that Matthews’ father turned him in to the authorities. CBS said a gas can clued his father in to his son’s involvement.
- - -
4. He Was a Member of Several Facebook Groups Where He Talked about Philosophy & Commented Once About History Being Burned. He Also Said That He ‘Loves Learning About Other Cultures and Faiths.’

Heavy searched through the public comments still listed for some of the group that Holden Matthews was part of on Facebook and did not find any argumentative or overtly political posts, although he wrote a lot about philosophical topics and his religious beliefs.

- - -
5. A Fourth Fire Was Intentionally Set at a Predominantly White Church Three Hours North, But It’s Not Known if It Was Related.

- - -
Rick Swanson, a professor and civil rights researcher with the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, told The Acadiana Advocate: “it would be very consistent with a pattern of terrorism used against black churches” if the St. Landry Parish fires were hate crimes.

A fourth fire was also set at Vivian United Pentecostal Church on March 31. This fire was at a predominantly white church about three hours north in Caddo Parish, NPR reported. It’s not yet known if this fire was related because the first three fires were just miles away from one another, but officials do know that this fire was set intentionally, CNN reported.
- - -
Published Apr 10, 2019 at 9:31pm

 

[human]

No clues in his FB . That must have been hard for his father

 

[BayouBelle_LA]

Officials to hold press conference on arrest in church burnings

The Louisiana State Fire Marshal’s Office will be holding a press conference today at 10:00 a.m. to release more details about the arrest and investigation. Governor John Bel Edwards is expected to be there along with officials from St. Landry Parish, the FBI, and ATF.

KATC will have full coverage of that press conference on air and online.

 

[The 13th]

No clues in his FB . That must have been hard for his father

Not no clues, exactly, but it does seem like he wasn't one of those screechers who raises obvious red flags.

- - -
"On a Facebook page that appears to belong to Matthews, he was active in black metal and pagan pages. Although both scenes are predominately apolitical, both have large neo-Nazi fanbases. Matthews commented on two memes about Varg Vikernes, a far-right (and self-described former neo-Nazi) metal musician who served 15 years in prison for burning churches in Norway and killing a fellow metal musician.

Vikernes, a practitioner of pagan beliefs, described the arsons as having been "revenge" for Christian actions against pagan Viking graves. Vikernes has been cited by other far-right killers. Norwegian white supremacist Anders Breivik sent Vikernes a copy of his manifesto before going on to kill 77 people. Atomwaffen Division, a U.S.-based neo-Nazi group with multiple murders to its name, has cited Vikernes books on paganism on their website.

Holden Matthews Arrested in String of Louisiana Church Fires

- - -

 

[BayouBelle_LA]

Key points from press conference:

There's no longer a threat to the community.

The maximum penalty for each offense is 15 years.

The investigation is ongoing. They are exploring all motives. Possibly a black metal motive. A common theme in black metal music is church burning.

The rumor that the deputy turned his son in is absolutely false. The crime wasn't solved with any tips or help from the public. Deputy Matthews is a fine man and is devasted after the sheriff gave him the news.

 

[The 13th]

Key points from press conference:

There's no longer a threat to the community.

The maximum penalty for each offense is 15 years.

The investigation is ongoing. They are exploring all motives. Possibly a black metal motive. A common theme in black metal music is church burning.

The rumor that the deputy turned his son in is absolutely false. The crime wasn't solved with any tips or help from the public. Deputy Matthews is a fine man and is devasted after the sheriff gave him the news.

Thank you @BayouBelle_LA for the summary! Very helpful for those of us who missed the presser.

 

[Tillicum]

Key points from press conference:

There's no longer a threat to the community.

The maximum penalty for each offense is 15 years.

The investigation is ongoing. They are exploring all motives. Possibly a black metal motive. A common theme in black metal music is church burning.

The rumor that the deputy turned his son in is absolutely false. The crime wasn't solved with any tips or help from the public. Deputy Matthews is a fine man and is devasted after the sheriff gave him the news.

Glad they got him. Hope he gets the max on all charges.

 

[TTF14]

Off to Google "black metal..."

 

[PrairieWind]

Off to Google "black metal..."

Thats a new one for me too. But I don't think I'll bother looking it up. Just more idiots I guess.

 

[Inthedetails]

Ugh. I dated a guy I worked with between high school and college who was in a band. I found out it was a racist, neo-Nazi skinhead metal band - I broke it off, fast. That was DECADES ago (in the 80s!). Horrible to think this subculture still exists in our nation among young people. This makes me very, very sad.

 

[BayouBelle_LA]

'Evil acts': Deputy's son Holden Matthews arrested for 3 Louisiana church fires

Browning said that "we're still vetting several motives," but added that they have found that Matthews had ties to "black metal and its association and history with church burnings in other parts of the world."

Black metal, a distant genre of devil-worshipping death metal music, has roots in the Norwegian heavy metal scene that reportedly was the inspiration for several church burnings in the country in the early 1990s.

'Evil acts': Deputy's son Holden Matthews arrested for 3 Louisiana church fires

The charred remains of a Scepter-branded, 2-gallon gas can ultimately led investigators to Matthews, according to a court affidavit. A pickup truck believed to have been driven by the suspect was captured by surveillance cameras leaving the parking lot of Greater Union Baptist Church moments before it went up in flames.

The affidavit said the pickup was later captured driving by the fire scene and slowing down. A firefighter also reported seeing the pickup near the burning church.

The gas can was discovered by federal ATF agents on Tuesday at Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, the affidavit said. Investigators learned that a Walmart in Opelousas was a local seller of the Scepter-branded can.

Walmart informed investigators that two Scepter cans were purchased late on March 25 — less than three hours before the first fire — along with a 10-pack of automotive cloths and a lighter, according to the affidavit. The receipt showed the purchase was made with a debit card in the name of Holden Matthews.

Investigators also obtained surveillance photos of the purchaser and the pickup he was driving. The affidavit said a Ford pickup like the one Matthews was driving was registered to the suspect’s father, Roy. Matthews’ cell phone was traced to the area of the fires.

 

[Inthedetails]

'Evil acts': Deputy's son Holden Matthews arrested for 3 Louisiana church fires

Browning said that "we're still vetting several motives," but added that they have found that Matthews had ties to "black metal and its association and history with church burnings in other parts of the world."

Black metal, a distant genre of devil-worshipping death metal music, has roots in the Norwegian heavy metal scene that reportedly was the inspiration for several church burnings in the country in the early 1990s.

'Evil acts': Deputy's son Holden Matthews arrested for 3 Louisiana church fires

The charred remains of a Scepter-branded, 2-gallon gas can ultimately led investigators to Matthews, according to a court affidavit. A pickup truck believed to have been driven by the suspect was captured by surveillance cameras leaving the parking lot of Greater Union Baptist Church moments before it went up in flames.

The affidavit said the pickup was later captured driving by the fire scene and slowing down. A firefighter also reported seeing the pickup near the burning church.

The gas can was discovered by federal ATF agents on Tuesday at Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, the affidavit said. Investigators learned that a Walmart in Opelousas was a local seller of the Scepter-branded can.

Walmart informed investigators that two Scepter cans were purchased late on March 25 — less than three hours before the first fire — along with a 10-pack of automotive cloths and a lighter, according to the affidavit. The receipt showed the purchase was made with a debit card in the name of Holden Matthews.

Investigators also obtained surveillance photos of the purchaser and the pickup he was driving. The affidavit said a Ford pickup like the one Matthews was driving was registered to the suspect’s father, Roy. Matthews’ cell phone was traced to the area of the fires.

Great detective work.

So disappointing that the perp is the son of LE.

jmo

 

[BayouBelle_LA]

Suspect in Louisiana church fires charged with hate crimes

The fire marshal described cellphone records placing Matthews at the fire locations. On his phone, Browning said, Matthews had images of the church fires in the early stages and the destruction days after the churches were set ablaze, in addition to copies of news reports about the fires.

"He actually superimposed himself on those news reports, claiming responsibility for these fires," Browning said.

Video surveillance near the churches showed a truck similar to the one Matthews drives, Browning said. Matthews also exchanged text messages with a friend who asked about the fires: "Was that your work?" the fire marshal said.

In addition, Browning said Matthews posted on Facebook about and showed interest in a movie called "Lords of Chaos," which Browning said is a recent Norwegian film that involved church burnings.

 

[BayouBelle_LA]

I think his name needs to be added to the title with ARREST.

Suspect in black church fires formally charged; bail denied

The Facebook page entered into evidence was a screen shot of a post made in a private group, Black Metal Artists. The post states “choose your class,” and the options visible are Wizard, Fighter, Sniper, Assassin, Guardian and Warrior. There’s a screen shot of a post from a Facebook account named Holden Matthews posted “i’ll take the arson/assassin/bard,” but it’s not clear if that post was on the Black Metal Arists post or not. There’s a photo included in his post of Matthews holding some kind of blades crossed over his chest.

A review of the page’s posts shows repeated anti-Christian references, including a parody of a musician cutting the throat of a Catholic nun. Louisiana’s hate crimes law adds five years to each sentence for any crime that a jury or judge finds was spurred by hate of “actual or perceived race, age, gender, religion, color, creed, disability, sexual orientation, national origin, or ancestry of that person or the owner or occupant of that property or because of actual or perceived membership or service in, or employment with, an organization.”

Last week, CNN reported that four days before his arrest in connection with the three Louisiana Baptist church fires, Matthews expressed disgust with Baptist beliefs on Facebook. Responding to a post about “afrikan spirituality,” Matthews, posting under the name Noctis Matthews, said he cannot “stand all these baptists around here, bunch of brainwashed people trying to find happiness in a religion that was forced on their ancestors just as it was on mine.” In the posting, Matthews also said he wished that, “more blacks [sic] people would look into ancient beliefs of pre Christian Africa.”