A bride-to-be has been arrested and charged with aggravated arson after allegedly setting fire to a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints building in Kaysville, Utah, on July 10, just one day before her own wedding ceremony was scheduled to take place.
Lenita 'Tessa' Joy Moreno, 25, of Wyoming, is accused of starting the blaze inside the church, causing an estimated $108,000 in damage. Fire investigators determined the fire was deliberately set beneath a chair, with unusual items including what appeared to be a tampon found at the scene. Surveillance footage from hours before the incident allegedly showed Moreno stealing two to three lighters from a local hardware store.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Moreno lit the fire while five other individuals were still inside the church. The affidavit also stated that Moreno had not obtained a marriage license for her wedding that was to occur the following day, despite claiming she had.
Moreno was booked into the Davis County Jail on charges of aggravated arson, retail theft, and providing false information to a peace officer. She is being held without bail.
Police and fire crews responded to the fire at approximately 10 p.m. on July 10. Family members present at the time were setting up for the next day's ceremony and were preparing to leave when the fire alarm activated. They reported seeing flames in the Relief Society room. One individual attempted to extinguish the fire using water from wedding decorations, while another used a fire extinguisher.
During the investigation, the groom told authorities that he and Moreno had been inside the Relief Society room shortly before the fire alarm sounded. He also stated that he and Moreno had visited an Ace Hardware store and a Chevron station earlier that evening. Surveillance footage from Ace Hardware confirmed Moreno's presence and allegedly showed her taking lighters and concealing them. Moreno admitted to stealing when confronted but did not specify which items she took. When questioned by police about carrying a lighter, she reportedly denied doing so and claimed she had no reason to carry one as she does not smoke.
The investigation involved Kaysville police and fire officials, the fire marshal’s office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.