A bride-to-be has been arrested and charged with aggravated arson, retail theft, and providing false information to a peace officer after allegedly setting fire to a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints building in Kaysville, Utah, the night before her wedding.
Lenita 'Tessa' Joy Moreno, 25, of Wyoming, is accused of causing more than $108,000 in damages to the church on July 10. Fire investigators determined the blaze was deliberately set beneath a chair inside the building, using unusual items including what appeared to be a tampon with an applicator.
According to a probable cause affidavit, five other individuals were inside the church when the fire began. Family members were present, setting up for the next day's ceremony, when the fire alarm sounded. They reported seeing flames in the Relief Society room and attempted to extinguish the fire using water from wedding decorations and a fire extinguisher.
The groom told investigators that he and Moreno had been inside the Relief Society room shortly before the fire alarm activated. Police noted that Moreno initially identified herself as Tessa Moran before being confirmed as Moreno.
Pre-fire Activities
Hours before the fire, surveillance footage allegedly captured Moreno stealing two to three lighters from a local hardware store and concealing them in her clothing and shoe. The groom was reportedly not present during this incident. The couple left the store having paid only for decor hooks, not the lighters.
During a police interview, Moreno admitted to stealing but declined to specify the items taken. When questioned about possessing a lighter, she denied carrying one and stated she had no reason to as she does not smoke.
Investigators noted that Moreno is from out of state and has been deceptive throughout the investigation. The affidavit stated that she did not obtain a marriage license for her wedding, despite claiming she had.
Moreno was booked into the Davis County Jail, where she remains held without bail. The investigation involved multiple law enforcement and fire agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.