Suspect faces federal charges after Byron United Methodist Church was burned down
The man who allegedly burned down the Byron United Methodist Church earlier this year was indicted on federal charges Wednesday, according to court documents.
The indictment from a federal grand jury Wednesday charged Luke Andrew Westefeld with one count of malicious use of fire after he “maliciously damaged and destroyed, by means of fire and explosive materials,” the church sitting between 103 W. Heritage Blvd. and 105 W. Heritage Blvd. on Aug. 20, according to court documents. A Ford E-350 Super Duty van was also set ablaze by Westefeld, the indictment alleges.
Officers from the Byron Police Department responded when an officer “saw and smelled smoke” coming from the Byron United Methodist Church on Aug. 20. Jesse Thompson, a parishioner, told The Telegraph after the church was set ablaze that the administrative office was set on fire. He returned to the church on Aug. 22 to retrieve documents from the building. Between piles of washed debris were burnt bibles.
Jody Ushry, a patron at the church for over 30 years, lamented the damage and mentioned that people who relied on the church’s food pantry wouldn’t be helped anymore.
“I don’t know what would motivate someone to do such a cruel act,” Ushry said.
The fire from Aug. 20 was not the first time the Byron United Methodist Church was on fire, as The Telegraph previously reported of an explosion in the church’s heating system in the basement that destroyed most of the building except the walls and stained glass windows on Jan. 20, 1966.
This story was originally published December 11, 2024 at 10:44 AM.
