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Investigators believe the flames that caused a Walker County church to burn to the ground Sunday night were the result of arson.Photo by WRCB-TV Channel 3 /Chattanooga Times Free Press.
Investigators believe the flames that caused a Walker County church to burn to the ground Sunday night were the result of arson, the lead investigator said this afternoon.
County firefighters spent all Sunday night putting out flames at Garretts Chapel Baptist Church after a neighbor reported the fire shortly before 11 p.m.
The fire destroyed both adjoining church buildings, Walker County Assistant Fire Chief Waymond Westbrook said.
Authorities believe someone broke into a door in the building’s breezeway and set the church on fire, Westbrook said.
But investigators don’t have any solid leads at this time, he said.
Authorities are hoping someone will come forward with more information.
The state fire marshal is offering a $10,000 reward to anyone with information that leads to an arrest and conviction.
For complete details, see tomorrow’s Chattanooga Times Free Press.
Joy Lukachick is a crime reporter for the Chattanooga Times Free Press. Since 2009, she's covered breaking news, high-profile trials, stories of lost lives and of regained hope and done investigative work. Raised near the Bayou, Joy’s hometown is along the outskirts of Baton Rouge, La. She has a bachelor’s degree in mass communication from Louisiana State University. While at LSU, Joy was a staff writer for the Daily Reveille. When Joy isn't chasing down ...
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