Investigators Have Suspect in Kingdom Hall Arsons
(WSB Radio) Members of the Cobb and Forsyth county churches struck by arson overnight have given investigators a lead on a suspect.

WSB's Veronica Waters reports the fires at Jehovah's Witness Kingdom Halls in Acworth and Cumming caused minimal damage. Church members discovered the smoldering fire at the location on Dr. Bramblett Road in Forysyth County around 9:00 Monday morning.

"The accelerant was poured over a carpet in the hallway and also in the sanctuary," Forsyth county Sheriff Ted Paxton tells WSB, "but fortunately once it was lit, the only thing that burned was where the accelerant had been put on the carpet. I think the carpet was a non-flammable or a flame-retardant type material. It did not get into a full-blown fire."

Paxton says investigators have "a good suspect," and he's a man who actually attended meetings at both locations. The white male in his mid-20s lives in Kennesaw, has ties to Forsyth County, and has a history of drug abuse, Paxton says.

"From what we've been able to establish, it appears that the motivation has to do with some counseling that might have been going on with this individual and for whatever reason, this individual has now sought to lash out," says Paxton.

Paxton says the suspect had made veiled threats to some in the congregation, and members told authorities of their suspicions after discovering the fire damage.

"Not specific threats, but there had been some veiled phone messages left, I understand, at some of the elders of the church who had been trying to help him through this period when he was trying to rid himself of the drug problem," says Paxton.

Monday, 17 October 2005

I understand, at some of the elders of the church who had been trying to help him through this period when he was trying to rid himself of the drug problem," says Paxton.