Texas woman pleads guilty to setting Washington church on fire
Apr 24, 2025, 5:00 PM
Seattle Laestadian Lutheran Church in Snohomish County was destroyed by fire in August 2023. (Photo courtesy of 成人X站 7)
(Photo courtesy of 成人X站 7)
A 38-year-old woman from Temple, Texas, has pleaded guilty to setting a fire that caused millions of dollars in damage to a church in Snohomish County,
Natasha Marie O鈥橠ell admitted to setting fire to the Seattle Laestadian Lutheran Church (SLLC) and pleaded guilty to arson, damaging religious property, and obstructing the free exercise of religion. She has been in custody since her arrest in Texas in August 2024.
At the time of the fire, O鈥橠ell was visiting relatives in nearby Woodinville, according to law enforcement. Surveillance video from the church聽allegedly shows O鈥橠ell walking around the building with a red gasoline canister before pouring its contents along the building’s exterior. Police said the investigation revealed O’Dell bought just over a gallon of gasoline and lighters from a nearby service station. She then used a rideshare service to reach the church.
Texas woman admits to burning Washington church
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During her guilty plea, O’Dell admitted she was angry with churches and SLLC specifically. She also reportedly told somebody that she wanted to burn the church. The fire caused over $3.2 million worth of damage, forcing the congregation to rent a local middle school multiple times a week.聽
Damaging religious property and interfering with religious practice are federal offenses, each punishable by up to 40 years in prison, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The arson charge comes with a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a potential maximum of 20 years.
