The trial for a 59-year-old man accused of setting fire to two historic Douglas churches in May 2023 is set to set to start this week.
Eric Ridenour, who was indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2023 on two counts of arson, is accused of setting fire to two historic churches in the border community of Douglas: Saint Stephenโs Episcopal Church and First Presbyterian Church on May 22, 2023. His motive, according to court documents: resentment of inclusive policies towards women and homosexuals at the churches.
The pretrial conference, held Monday, July 1, involved Ridenour making statements on how the average Christian knows itโs an abomination to have women and homosexuals serving in positions in the church.
Officials with the Douglas Fire Department discovered the fire first at St. Stephenโs Church about 11 a.m., then learned its neighboring structure, First Presbyterian Church, was also on fire, according to the initial complaint filed in court.
The fires resulted in St. Stephenโs being almost completely destroyed, while First Presbyterian lost its roof and suffered significant internal damage, according to prior reporting by the Arizona Daily Star.
Ridenourโs blue Pontiac Aztec was caught on surveillance footage, and he was seen walking in and out of both churches prior to the fires, according to court documents. Investigators have cited the โdistinctive gaitโ and clothes worn by the man on video.
Among the evidence seized as part of the investigation were bottles of lighter fluid and remnants of what appeared to be lighters, court documents show.
The federal trial will be held in U.S. District Court in downtown Tucson.
