Kaysville, Utah — A Utah woman is facing serious criminal charges after authorities accused her of setting fire to a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints meetinghouse just hours before she was scheduled to be married there.
Investigators say the alleged arson endangered several people inside the building and caused more than $108,000 in damage, turning what was supposed to be a wedding celebration into a criminal investigation.
Bride Arrested Weeks After Church Fire
Authorities arrested Lenita Joy Moreno, 25, on Monday in connection with the July 10 fire at the church located on West Center Street in Kaysville.
According to jail records, Moreno is being held without bail at the Davis County Jail.
She has been charged with first-degree aggravated arson, along with misdemeanor counts of retail theft and providing false information to a peace officer.
Court documents state that Moreno initially identified herself to police using the name Tessa Moran instead of her legal name.
Family Members Preparing for Wedding Discovered the Fire
Emergency crews responded to the church at approximately 10:07 p.m. after a fire alarm was activated.
According to investigators, family members were inside preparing for the wedding scheduled for the following day when the alarm sounded.
They soon discovered flames inside the building’s Relief Society room.
One person reportedly used water from wedding decorations to slow the fire, while another extinguished the remaining flames with a fire extinguisher, preventing the blaze from spreading throughout the church.
Fire investigators later concluded that the fire had been intentionally set beneath a chair using unusual materials.
Investigators Say Wedding Plans Raised Additional Questions
According to a probable cause affidavit, investigators believe Moreno started the fire while five other people were still inside the church.
The affidavit also states that Moreno had not obtained a marriage license for the wedding, despite allegedly telling others that the paperwork had already been completed.
Police interviewed the groom, who said he and Moreno had entered the Relief Society room shortly before the fire alarm went off as they were securing the building for the night.
Investigators have not publicly disclosed a motive for the alleged arson.
Surveillance Video Allegedly Shows Lighter Theft
During the investigation, detectives learned that the couple had visited an Ace Hardware store earlier that same day to purchase hooks for wedding decorations.
According to investigators, security camera footage allegedly showed Moreno taking two or three lighters without paying while the groom was elsewhere inside the store.
When questioned by police, Moreno reportedly admitted to shoplifting from the hardware store but declined to identify exactly what she had taken.
Authorities later included the alleged theft among the misdemeanor charges filed against her.
Investigation Continues as Case Moves Forward
The fire caused an estimated $108,000 in property damage, though officials said the quick actions of those inside the church prevented a much larger disaster.
Investigators continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident, including what may have led to the alleged arson just hours before the planned wedding.
Moreno remains in custody as the criminal case proceeds through the Utah court system. Prosecutors have not announced any additional charges, and court proceedings are expected to determine how the case moves forward.
What do you think about this case? Should penalties be harsher when alleged arson puts multiple people inside a building at risk? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
