Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Students say church arsons meant as ‘a joke’
NBC News ^ | March 8, 2006

Posted on 03/08/2006 11:03:17 AM PST by presidio9

Two college students arrested Wednesday in a string of nine rural Alabama church arsons told authorities that the first fires were set as “a joke” and later blazes were intended as a diversion, federal agents said.

A third college student was arrested later Wednesday in the serial arsons, according to WVTM-TV of Birmingham.

Benjamin Nathan Moseley and Russell Lee Debusk Jr., both students at Birmingham-Southern College, appeared in federal court Wednesday and were ordered held on church arson charges pending a hearing Friday.

Matthew Lee Cloyd, reportedly a student at the University of Alabama in Birmingham, was arrested midday, the WVTM reported.

An ATF affidavit said Moseley told agents on Wednesday that he, Cloyd and Debusk went to Bibb County in Cloyd’s Toyota sport utility vehicle on Feb. 2 and set fire to five churches. A witness quoted Cloyd as saying Moseley did it “as a joke and it got out of hand,” according to the affidavit.

Moseley also told agents the four church fires in west Alabama were set “as a diversion to throw investigators off,” an attempt that “obviously did not work,” the affidavit said.

Arson investigators scheduled an afternoon news conference at the Tuscaloosa airport to discuss the arrests.

The first two suspects were arrested Tuesday night, NBC’s Pete Williams reported.

WVTM-TV, citing the state fire marshal’s office, said the two are students at Birmingham Southern College and were arrested at a college dorm.

The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives made the Alabama church arson case a top priority as scores of agents joined state and local law officers in the probe.

Authorities analyzed tire tracks and traced the purchase of the tires to

-snip-

A federal source said the apparent motive was that the three students just liked to set and watch fires.

(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Front Page News; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; US: Alabama
KEYWORDS: afewbadapples; arson; atf; bendover; benjaminmoseley; churchburning; cloyd; debusk; fbi; hamuslimsdidntdoit; jailtime; joke; jokes; matthew; matthewcloyd; moseley; nojoke; nojokenow; pete; petewilliams; realfunny; russelldebusk; tomfoolery; whatnoterrorism; williams; yutesgonebad
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 161-164 next last
To: presidio9
I’ve been doing some research. Looks like these guys might be involved in the theatre (just like Hollywood lefties)

Here Ben Moseley is pictured in a school play.

Russ DeBusk has a photo from another school play.

I’ve also found a Matt Cloyd listed as a student at Birmingham Southern College. At least two of thesee guys are involved in frats.

I’m out of time, but if someone else wants to poke around the ‘net…

41 posted on 03/08/2006 11:28:30 AM PST by inkling
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NavyCanDo

I think they should be more afraid of what awaits them in the hereafter.


42 posted on 03/08/2006 11:29:25 AM PST by flying Elvis
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]

To: cripplecreek
After about 50 years in prison, it's gonna be hilarious.

WERD...

43 posted on 03/08/2006 11:30:17 AM PST by TampaDude (If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the PROBLEM!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: inkling
Eeris isn't it? He may be playing that role for a long time.

“Extremities” takes a profound look at sexual violence, revenge, and just how far we can be pushed before we respond in a way we may regret. Described as a “white-knuckle psychological thriller,” this intense stage drama has been known to keep audience members riveted.

44 posted on 03/08/2006 11:31:56 AM PST by flying Elvis
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 41 | View Replies]

To: presidio9
According to Wikipedia, Brimingham Southern is affiliated with the United Methodist Church.

Press Here

45 posted on 03/08/2006 11:32:04 AM PST by fso301
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: inkling
As part of the January 2005 Interim Term, the students are producing All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten...

Apparently Russ didn't learn everything he really need to know in kindergarten. His nap time must have coincided with the "Don't play with matches" lesson.

46 posted on 03/08/2006 11:32:20 AM PST by Denver Ditdat (Melting solder since 1975)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 41 | View Replies]

To: inkling
Looks like these guys might be involved in the theatre

Did they enjoy "Brokeback Mountain"?

47 posted on 03/08/2006 11:33:04 AM PST by Alouette (Psalms of the Day: 44-48)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 41 | View Replies]

To: presidio9
A federal source said the apparent motive was that the three students just liked to set and watch fires.

Mebbe so, but you have to wonder why churches specifically. I'm thinking there's a little more to this than just that.

I had a conversation with an insurance investigator one time in which he stated that arson, especially among adolescents, is often linked to sexual abnormality. Don't know if it's widely true but it certainly was in the case of the arsonist he did end up catching. Little SOB had burned my boss's house down.

48 posted on 03/08/2006 11:34:11 AM PST by Billthedrill
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: presidio9
Actually.. a GOOD DEFENSE!... Good sense of humor! :)

Well, they are going to need their sense of humor now... I am already laughing! :)

49 posted on 03/08/2006 11:34:39 AM PST by ElPatriota (Let's not forget that we are still friends despite our differences!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ursus arctos horribilis
I fail to see why you addressed that to me.

Three times, even.

I made no joke.

50 posted on 03/08/2006 11:37:46 AM PST by Izzy Dunne (Hello, I'm a TAGLINE virus. Please help me spread by copying me into YOUR tag line.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: mlc9852

Their parents are probably rushing to the defense of their little misunderstood "mere pranksters".

I think church arson and graveyard vandalism is just the lowest.


51 posted on 03/08/2006 11:38:00 AM PST by A knight without armor
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: presidio9

"Two college students arrested Wednesday in a string of nine rural Alabama church arsons told authorities that the first fires were set as “a joke” and later blazes were intended as a diversion, federal agents said."

So...
Here's another, "joke"...YOU'RE GOING TO PRISON...


52 posted on 03/08/2006 11:38:19 AM PST by Mrs. Darla Ruth Schwerin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: presidio9
Ha ... Ha ... Ha ...

Now watch me set your house on fire, as a joke.

53 posted on 03/08/2006 11:38:30 AM PST by shekkian
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: presidio9
Here's a joke for ya: prison! Hoo, boy, that's a knee-slapper!

*slaps knee*

54 posted on 03/08/2006 11:38:31 AM PST by Gordongekko909 (I know. Let's cut his WHOLE BODY off.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: A knight without armor

"I think church arson and graveyard vandalism is just the lowest."

I agree. Hope they are seriously punished.


55 posted on 03/08/2006 11:42:27 AM PST by mlc9852
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 51 | View Replies]

To: flying Elvis
“In correctional settings, overall, it is not that unusual, (but) it is not a common occurrence at the Floyd County Jail,” he said.

Sounds like double talk to me.

56 posted on 03/08/2006 11:44:17 AM PST by oyez (Appeasement is insanity)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: Alouette
What was that final production number in The Producers, "Prisoners of Love"?
57 posted on 03/08/2006 11:46:05 AM PST by oyez (Appeasement is insanity)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 47 | View Replies]

To: presidio9
This is a repeat from another thread on the subject.

In the central coast area of California in the early 1980's there was a series of arson started wildfires that eventually burned several thousand acres of oaks and coastal pines, and a number of structures (barns, homes).

The perps were a pair of "gay" lovers who enjoyed setting fires as a part of their foreplay. They would throw a fire starting device out the car window, then drive a little ways down the road and consummate their lust for each other.

Very little was ever said about their arrests and convictions in the press. After all, these arsonists belonged to a protected class of people.

58 posted on 03/08/2006 11:46:55 AM PST by Irish Queen
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: presidio9

Great. Accept their explanation.

Then jam their punk a**es in jail for a long, long time. As a joke, of course.

Ask them how funny it is now.


59 posted on 03/08/2006 11:48:11 AM PST by cvq3842
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: presidio9

Bubba is gonna introduce him to a real "joke poke".


60 posted on 03/08/2006 11:49:01 AM PST by freedomlover (The only reason you are still conscious is because I don't want to carry you. - Jack)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 161-164 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson