— The first fire engulfed St. Mary Baptist Church in late March, incinerating nearly everything that stood within the historically black church. Matthews is the son of St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Deputy Roy Matthews, who was “shocked and hurt” at the news of the arrest, St. Landry Parish Sheriff Bobby Guidroz said. It was the third predominantly black church to burn down in St. Landry Parish in the 10-day span. A man in Mississippi pleaded guilty to arson last month for setting fire to a black church in 2016. Gerald Toussaint of Mount Pleasant Baptist Church told the Daily Advertiser, noting that it was more than 140 years old.

Source: Washington Post April 11, 2019 14:44 UTC