SC man admits to burning Byron church. A Bible verse inspired him, officials say
A South Carolina man admitted to setting the Byron United Methodist Church on fire in 2024, according to federal prosecutors.
Luke Westefeld, 34, of North Augusta, S.C., pleaded guilty Monday to one count of maliciously using fire , according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Middle District of Georgia.
He broke into the church at 103 W. Heritage St. on Aug. 20, 2024, and burned it to the ground.
Much of the interior was destroyed, according to previous Telegraph reporting. Piles of ashed debris, including Bibles, were found in the church, but there was minimal damage to the sanctuary, according to the church’s Facebook post at the time.
Westefeld faces between five and 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. No sentencing date has been scheduled as of Tuesday.
Why he did it
On Aug. 20, 2024, Westefeld approached choir members near the Byron United Methodist Church’s parking lot. He asked for water, but the members denied him, “telling officers they were concerned about their safety,” according to the news release.
He broke into the church later that night. Westefeld saw unlit candlesticks on the altar, which upset him. He believed that the candles should remain lit throughout the night.
“(Westefeld) noticed that the Bible on the pulpit was opened to Ezekiel 24:21, which spoke of the desecration of the sanctuary due to sin,” federal prosecutors said. “Westefeld took it as a sign for him to burn the Church.”
After lighting the candlesticks, Westefeld used them to burn the American and Methodist flags in the sanctuary.
Westefeld then went into the church’s office, where he found cash and checks. His “anger level reached a 10” upon seeing the money, believing it should be deposited in a bank, the news release said.
He became even more enraged upon seeing food in the office’s pantry because he thought “ it should be given to the poor,” the news release said. Westefeld then lit the church’s office on fire.
Westefeld also wanted to burn the church’s van. He stole a plastic gas can from a nearby home to use as an accelerant. However, there was no gasoline in it, according to federal prosecutors.
He went to the van behind the church and “stuffed his white shirt in the gas cap of the van and set it on fire,” the news release said.
“Intentionally setting fire to a house of worship is a malicious act that devastates not only a sacred space, but also reverberates throughout the entire community,” said U.S. Attorney William “Will” Keyes.
