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 Cloyds 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, NBCs Pete Williams reported.
WVTM-TV, citing the state fire marshals 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 ...
Here Ben Moseley is pictured in a school play.
Russ DeBusk has a photo from another school play.
Ive also found a Matt Cloyd listed as a student at Birmingham Southern College. At least two of thesee guys are involved in frats.
Im out of time, but if someone else wants to poke around the net
I think they should be more afraid of what awaits them in the hereafter.
WERD...
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.
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.
Did they enjoy "Brokeback Mountain"?
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.
Well, they are going to need their sense of humor now... I am already laughing! :)
Three times, even.
I made no joke.
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.
"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...
Now watch me set your house on fire, as a joke.
*slaps knee*
"I think church arson and graveyard vandalism is just the lowest."
I agree. Hope they are seriously punished.
Sounds like double talk to me.
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.
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.
Bubba is gonna introduce him to a real "joke poke".
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