Louisiana authorities have arrested a sheriff's deputy's son in connection with a series of fires at three historically black churches, authorities confirmed at a press conference Thursday. The suspect is Holden Matthews, a 21-year-old white male.
Louisiana State Fire Marshal Butch Browning said investigators "are extremely, unequivocally confident that we have the person who is responsible" for the fires. Matthews has been charged with three counts of simple arson of a religious building, with each charge carrying a maximum 15-year penalty.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
CBS previously reported Matthews is the son of a sheriff's deputy, and St. Landry Parish Sheriff Bobby Guidroz confirmed Thursday that "Holden's father is an employee of mine" who was "shocked and hurt as any father would be."
Browning said the investigation is still active and that Matthews was quickly taken into custody because authorities felt "other crimes were imminent." The FBI is investigating whether the arson constitutes a hate crime. Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) said he did not know the arsonist's motive but that "these were evil acts" and "hate is not a Louisiana value."
-
Massive earthquake sends tsunami across PacificSpeed Read Hundreds of thousands of people in Japan and Hawaii were told to evacuate to higher ground
-
FEMA Urban Search and Rescue chief resignsSpeed Read Ken Pagurek has left the organization, citing 'chaos'
-
Wildfires destroy historic Grand Canyon lodgeSpeed Read Dozens of structures on the North Rim have succumbed to the Dragon Bravo Fire
-
Search for survivors continues after Texas floodsSpeed Read A total of 82 people are confirmed dead, including 28 children
-
EPA is reportedly killing Energy Star programspeed read The program for energy-efficient home appliances has saved consumers billions in energy costs since its 1992 launch
-
US proposes eroding species protectionsSpeed Read The Trump administration wants to change the definition of 'harm' in the Environmental Protection Act to allow habitat damage
-
Severe storms kill dozens across central USSpeed Read At least 40 people were killed over the weekend by tornadoes, wildfires and dust storms
-
Rain helps Los Angeles wildfires, risks mudslidesSpeed Read The weather provided relief for crews working to contain wildfires, though rain over a burn area ups the chances of flooding and mudslides
