Craig Smith is KGUN 9's Southeast side reporter. Send your story ideas to Craig at [email protected].
TUCSON, Ariz. — Eric Ridenour has been found guilty on all six counts for burning two historic churches in Douglas.Prosecutors said Ridenour set fire to St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church and First Presbyterian Church on May 22, 2023. Both were built more than a hundred years ago.
They are two of the four churches that comprise Douglas’ Church Square, famous for historic churches on all four corners. Besides arson, the Government prosecuted the case as a hate crime. Witness testimony related that Ridenour was upset that St. Stephen’s had a gay pastor and First Presbyterian’s pastor is a woman.Evidence included video that showed a car matching Ridenour’s at the fire scenes. A man is shown running back to the car as smoke appears above St. Stephen’s Church. He is wearing clothes that match clothing others saw Ridenour wearing the day of the fire.
Store surveillance video from a Home Depot showed Ridenour buying a bottle of charcoal lighting fluid about a month and a half before the fires. A bottle of the same brand of fluid was found in the fire debris at First Presbyterian.DAY 3 TRIAL COVERAGE: UPDATE: Jury considering verdict for Eric Ridenour, after defending himself in court for Douglas church arson DAY 2 TRIAL COVERAGE:Trial in church arson case begins with defendant acting as own lawyer ----
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