A man who has been arrested following fires at three historically black churches in Louisiana is the son of a sheriff’s deputy who authorities believe may have been influenced by “black metal music”.
Governor Jon Bel Edwards announced that 21-year-old Holden Matthews had been arrested in connection to those fires, which impacted three churches over a ten day period.
“I don’t know what this young man’s motive, I don’t know what was in his heart … but it cannot be justified,” Mr Edwards said on Thursday during a press conference.
State Fire Marshal Butch Browning said that Mr Matthews has been charged on three counts of arson on a religious building, with each individual count carrying a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.
Mr Browning was the official who said that black metal music may have been involved in Mr Matthew’s motive.
“We can now confirm all three of these fires are intentionally set and all three of these fires are related,” Mr Browning said.
Mr Matthews’ father works for the St Landry Parish Sheriff’s office, and Sheriff Bobby Guidroz said that his employee was shocked by the news about his son.
“Holden’s father is an employee of mine,” Mr Guidroz said. “He was shocked and hurt as any father would be. He was in terrible shape.”
