Feds Say Church Fires No. 1 Priority
FBI, ATF Suspect 9 Recent Fires At Alabama Churches Are Connected
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Play CBS Video Video Church Fires Investigation Federal investigators looking into a series of church fires in Alabama have told CBS News that they have several hot leads. Jim Acosta has more.
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Video Alabama Church Fires Arson? Four more Alabama churches have been damaged or destroyed by fire. Officials say the latest fires are related to the ones set last week. They suspect arson, but say race is not a motive.
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Video Probe Into Ala. Church Arsons State and federal authorities are hoping a reward will prompt some leads in the investigation of five Baptist church burnings in Bibb County, Ala. Mark Strassmann reports.
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Sumter County Sheriff Johnny Hatter, left, and Alabama Governor Bob Riley examine the charred remains of the Galilee Baptist Church Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2006 in Panola, Ala. (AP)
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An agent from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms investigates the remains of the Morning Star Baptist church Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2006, near Boligee, Ala., after a fire destroyed the structure earlier that morning. (AP)
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A firefighter from the West Greene Fire Department sprays water on the smoldering remains of the Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church near Boligee, Ala., in Greene County, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2006. (AP)
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Agents with the ATF sift through the debris of the destroyed Rehobeth Baptist Church, Saturday Feb. 4, 2006 in Lawley, Ala. (AP)
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Rehobeth Baptist Church Sunday school teacher Kim Jones, left, works with children as Pastor Duane Schliep talks with church members Sunday, Feb. 5, 2006 in Lawley, Ala. (AP)
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Interactive FIRE! A look at major fires and their victims, arson facts, and those who fight the flames.
The four latest fires took place at churches off rural roads, about 10-20 miles apart. They were in a cluster of three counties, about 60 miles from the Bibb County area where the five other churches were burned.
The FBI said it was looking into whether the Bibb County fires were a civil rights violation under laws covering attacks on religious property, and state and federal rewards totaling $10,000 have been offered.
CBS News correspondent Mark Strassman reports many people here remember church burnings from a decade ago. Just two counties away, three black churches were lost and no one was ever caught. In Bibb County, no one wants a repeat of justice denied.
"We're going to do everything we can to bring these people to justice," said Alabama Gov. Bob Riley.
The arsonist struck the remote churches very quickly. He clearly knew this rural area and many locals suspect he lives among them.
Ragan Ingram, a spokesman for the state insurance agency that oversees fire investigations, said earlier that investigators believed all five Bibb County fires were linked. He said they were pursuing several leads, but "the leads haven't led us to a specific suspect or a motive."
Agents said Tuesday they were looking for a dark-colored SVU — possibly a Nissan Pathfinder — in connection with the blazes.
Members of one of the churches burned Friday — the Old Union Baptist Church in Brierfield — told The Associated Press that they saw a dark Pathfinder near the building as they arrived to douse the flames.
In Boligee, Archibald said he was told by a resident that a sport-utility vehicle had been seen speeding through an intersection near the church.
By late morning, firefighters at Boligee were spraying down the smoking rubble of Morning Star Baptist. Burned to its concrete block foundation, all that remained of the wood-frame building was the front steps and handrail.
©MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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