Source: Office of United States Attorneys
Seattle – A 38-year-old Temple, Texas, woman was indicted this week by a federal grand jury for three felonies related to the arson at Seattle Laestadian Lutheran Church in Snohomish County, Washington, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Natasha Marie Odell has been in custody since her arrest in Texas in August 2024. She is currently detained at the Snohomish County Jail. Odell will be transferred to federal custody and is scheduled to be arraigned on the indictment on December 16, 2024.
According to records filed in state court and the federal indictment, Odell was linked via cell phone records, credit card records and surveillance video to the fire that destroyed the Maltby, Washington, church on August 25, 2023. Travel records indicate that over the time period of the fire, Odell was visiting relatives in Woodinville, Washington.
Even though the church was destroyed, part of the security system video surveillance survived the fire and depicted a woman who appears to match Odell, moving around the church with a container usually used to transport gasoline. In the video the person empties the container on the exterior walls of the church and items around the church. The person moves out of camera range and fire is seen growing on the areas where the person poured gasoline. Ultimately the video system stops functioning due to the fire.
The investigation tied Odell to credit card purchases at an area service station when she purchased just over a gallon of gasoline in a container and some lighters.
The fire did more than $2.5 million in damage to the church.
Odell is charged with Damage to Religious Property, Obstruction of Persons in the Free Exercise of Religious Beliefs, and Use of Fire to commit another Felony Offense.
Damage to Religious Property, and Obstruction of Persons in the Free Exercise of Religious Beliefs is punishable by up to 40 years in prison. Use of Fire to commit another Felony Offense is punishable by a mandatory minimum ten years in prison and up to life in prison.
The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case is being investigated by the Snohomish County Fire Marshall’s Office and the Bureau of Tobacco, Alcohol, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Todd Greenberg.