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.
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."
-
Critics’ choice: Watering holes for gourmandsFeature An endless selection of Mexican spirits, a Dublin-inspired bar, and an upscale Baltimore pub
-
Argentinian beef is at the center of American farmers’ woesThe Explainer ‘It feels like a slap in the face to rural America,’ said one farmer
-
‘Businesses that lose money and are uncompetitive won’t survive’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Hurricane Melissa slams Jamaica as Category 5 stormSpeed Read The year’s most powerful storm is also expected to be the strongest ever recorded in Jamaica
-
Renewables top coal as Trump seeks reversalSpeed Read For the first time, renewable energy sources generated more power than coal, said a new report
-
China vows first emissions cut, sidelining USSpeed Read The US, the world’s No. 2 emitter, did not attend the New York summit
-
At least 800 dead in Afghanistan earthquakespeed read A magnitude 6.0 earthquake hit a mountainous region of eastern Afghanistan
-
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
