Arson suspect faces hate crime charges following fires in Louisiana church

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Holden Matthews has been accused of burning three historically black churches in Louisiana in ten days. Yesterday, hate crime charges were added. From CBS News:

Testify in court, [Louisiana Fire Marshal Butch] Browning presented a litany of evidence, including new details of the investigation that, according to him, linked Matthews to the fire of the three churches for ten days.

"The evidence we have is unequivocal," Browning said. Later he added: "He clearly demonstrated the characteristics of a pathological firelighter."

The Fire Marshal described cell phone records indicating that Matthews was at the scene of the fire. Images on the phone showed that the three churches were burning before the forces of order arrived and that Matthews "claims" responsibility for the fires.

Matthews, who had no criminal record, was arrested Wednesday for three counts of arson in a religious building. Prosecutors filed documents on Monday adding three more charges, accusing Matthews of violating Louisiana's hate crimes law, confirming that they thought the fires were racially motivated, link that the authorities had never stopped …

Matthews' arrest comes a little over two weeks after the first fire at St. Mary's Baptist Church on March 26 in Port Barre, a town just off Opelousas. A few days later, the Greater Union Baptist Church and Mount Pleasant Baptist Church of Opelousas were set on fire. Everyone was over 100 years old.

The evidence in the case includes photos on Matthews' phone showing burned churches before the authorities went to the scene and statements in which he relied for the fires. He was refused on bail. Matthews is not your racist gardener. He seems to have been motivated by his hatred for Christianity and his support for pre-Christian and pagan religions. Authorities have hinted that he might have taken back some of his beliefs on the black metal scene. From CNN:

Four days before his arrest in connection with the three fires in the Louisiana Baptist Church, Holden Matthews expressed his distaste for Baptist beliefs on Facebook, CNN learned.

Responding to a message about "Afrikan spirituality", Matthews, posted under the name of Noctis Matthews, said that he could not "bear all these Baptists here, a gang of brainwashed people trying to finding happiness in a religion imposed on their ancestors was on mine. "

In the notice, Matthews said he wanted "more blacks [sic] people would look at the old beliefs of pre-Christian Africa. "

An acquaintance, Nygyl Bryyn, has confirmed the profile to CNN and the pseudonym is Holden Matthews. He says his friend is not racist and thinks the churches have been "victims of the circumstances".

While the motive is still under investigation, authorities have stated that Matthews' interest in black metal music may have influenced his behavior.

In the 1990s, black metal musicians were at the origin of a series of arson attacks in churches in Norway. There have been several documentaries and a recent feature film on black metal and arson and related murders.

On a clearer note, a GoFundMe account was created to help the three churches rebuild. In the wake of the Notre Dame fire in Paris yesterday, journalist Yashar Ali is trying to raise funds for the fund:

Ben Shapiro joined:

Not long ago, Hillary Clinton also joined the group. It is perhaps this rare case where something positive unites Americans of all parties.

In about two hours, nearly $ 200,000 was collected (in addition to the funds already collected) and this is the first global campaign thanks to all the attention it has received. Here is a video recently uploaded by one of the pastors who lost his church, thanking everyone for his help:

Finally, here is a report on the arson:

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