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The Investigation into Nine Church Fires (Alabama Church Fires yield excellent evidence)
WSFA-TV Montgomery, AL ^ | Feb 8, 2006 | WSFA Staff Report

Posted on 02/08/2006 7:39:09 AM PST by commish

The ATF now says all nine fires appear to be related. At each crime scene, the fire starter used things that were easy to catch fire in the church such as flowers or flags near the alter. "this is ugly criminal behavior," says ATF Agent Jim Cavanaugh.

Investigators say they have new evidence and maybe even some witnesses. Cavanaugh says, "The things that we seem to consistently hear and seem to make sense to us is that we have two white males. We have had multiple reports of that and we have had multiple reports of SUVs."

An ATF agent on the scene says whoever did this was up all night and may have signs of burns on the hands. Cavanaugh adds "We have got a lot of good evidence in there and this fire is clearly and obviously an arson fire."

The fire Marshall is asking to sheriff's in West Alabama to increase patrols.

Authorities are asking for the public's help in this case. The FBI has launched a special tip line. The number is 1-877-628-2533. And Alfa Insurance is offering up to a $37,500 dollar reward for information leading to a conviction.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Alabama
KEYWORDS: alabama; arson; baptist; batf; christian; churchfires; jimcavanaugh
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Radio herein montgomery says the BOLO for the 1980's Ford LTD has been rescinded and the vehicle is not a suspect vehicle (no other details). They said investigators are concentrating on eyewitness reports of a Dark Nissan Pathfinder again being seen in the vicinity of Tuesday Mornings fires.
1 posted on 02/08/2006 7:39:11 AM PST by commish
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To: commish
These fires do not seem to be the work of a piro. They would stick around for the fire works. Has to be hate against Baptist.
2 posted on 02/08/2006 7:42:33 AM PST by Coldwater Creek ("Over there, over there, We won't be back 'til it's over Over there.")
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To: commish

I'll keep my eye out for white guys in a white van.


3 posted on 02/08/2006 7:42:55 AM PST by RedBloodedAmerican
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To: commish

Interesting that this story is not at the top of the hysterical MSM hate crimes stories.


4 posted on 02/08/2006 7:43:14 AM PST by Chickensoup (The water in the pot is getting warmer, froggies.The water in the pot is getting warmer, froggies.)
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To: mariabush

A coffee says it's a Preachers Kid.


5 posted on 02/08/2006 7:43:23 AM PST by RedBloodedAmerican
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To: commish

JMO, the perp is someone who has been reading and taking to heart the rantings of the DUmpster.


6 posted on 02/08/2006 7:43:53 AM PST by Dane ( anyone who believes hillary would do something to stop illegal immigration is believing gibberish)
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To: Chickensoup

It would be if it had been 9 mosques. Baptist? Feh. Dime a dozen. Not news.


7 posted on 02/08/2006 7:43:59 AM PST by RedBloodedAmerican
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To: commish

You know, if these were black churches, by now the news media would be screaming and Jesse Jackson would be down in AL talking yelling about racism to hundreds of easy to stir up people.

Christians are low on the totem pole of importance.


8 posted on 02/08/2006 7:44:16 AM PST by I still care ("For it is the doom of men that they forget". - Merlin, from Excalibur)
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To: mariabush

Or someone that wants it to look like that.


9 posted on 02/08/2006 7:44:37 AM PST by stuartcr (Everything happens as God wants it to.....otherwise, things would be different.)
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To: Chickensoup

I should check that; it fell off the news scene once they found out it wasn't a race crime. Unfortunately the churches are not "black" churches.


10 posted on 02/08/2006 7:44:45 AM PST by RedBloodedAmerican
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To: commish
MOntgomery Advertiser article on what some churches and sheriff's are doing to prevent additional fires :
Sheriffs increase patrols near rural churches

Previous FR Posts :

Fires reported at 4 more Ala. churches

Burned Churches Hold Sunday Services

5 Southern Baptist churches in Alabama set afire

11 posted on 02/08/2006 7:45:34 AM PST by commish (Freedom Tastes Sweetest to Those Who Have Fought to Preserve It)
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To: I still care

About 1/2 of them ARE black churches.


12 posted on 02/08/2006 7:45:47 AM PST by NotJustAnotherPrettyFace
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To: RedBloodedAmerican

There's probably not even 9 mosques in Alabama, so I'm sure a rash of mosque fires in the south, would generate a lot of news.


13 posted on 02/08/2006 7:46:02 AM PST by stuartcr (Everything happens as God wants it to.....otherwise, things would be different.)
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To: mariabush
Has to be hate against Baptist.

Yep

14 posted on 02/08/2006 7:46:08 AM PST by Mo1 (Republicans protect Americans from Terrorists.. Democrats protect Terrorists from Americans)
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To: commish
Ah, evil SUV's are now setting church fires...
15 posted on 02/08/2006 7:46:25 AM PST by PCBMan (I aim to misbehave.)
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To: commish
Prediction: the perp stood to gain something (insurance?) from one of the fires, and set the others to spread the suspicion around.
16 posted on 02/08/2006 7:46:27 AM PST by Physicist
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To: mariabush

"These fires do not seem to be the work of a piro. They would stick around for the fire works. Has to be hate against Baptist.
"

Either that or stupidity. But the recurrence of the torchings seems to lead towards someone with some sort of grudge against Baptists in general.

Since both black and white Baptist churches have been torched, it's unlikely that there's any racial component to this.

I'm betting it's some guy who has been somehow wronged (he thinks) by some Baptist minister at some time. If it's two guys, it could be a father and son.

Maybe some Baptist pastor was foolin' around where shouldn't ought to have been foolin'. It happens.

Either that, or it's some sort of nutcase who hates all Christians and he's hitting Baptist churches because they are the most common in that area.

This perp is going to get caught, though...I'm sure of that.


17 posted on 02/08/2006 7:46:59 AM PST by MineralMan (godless atheist)
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To: commish
What kind of flags did they burn? It certainly represents a hatred of Christians, or specifically Baptists.
18 posted on 02/08/2006 7:47:01 AM PST by Dante3
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To: commish
Give it a couple of weeks and some DUmmie will be boasting about it. As far as whether or not it's a "hate crime", it sure looks like one. If somebody burned down nine mosques or nine synogogues it would be classified as a hate crime.

Somebody out there's got a real grudge out for Baptists.

19 posted on 02/08/2006 7:47:05 AM PST by Kenton
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To: mariabush

Have they all been Baptist? With the word Baptist in their names?


20 posted on 02/08/2006 7:47:34 AM PST by pepperdog
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