TX Woman Sentenced for Arson of Snohomish Church

Seattle – A Texas woman has been handed a six-year prison sentence for the deliberate arson of Seattle Laestadian Lutheran Church (SLLC) in Snohomish County, Washington. Natasha Marie O’Dell, 38, from Temple, Texas, pleaded guilty to three federal felonies including Arson, Damage to Religious Property, and Obstruction of Persons in the Free Exercise of Religious Beliefs.

According to Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller, O’Dell has been in custody since her arrest last August in Texas. The incident took place on April 2025 when she poured over a gallon of gasoline onto the church building and ignited it with a lighter. This act placed anyone within the church, its neighbors, and firefighters at significant risk.

“Ms. O’Dell deliberately set fire to a church causing complete destruction,” Judge Jamal N. Whitehead commented during the sentencing hearing. “The scope of the destruction is staggering. You burned down the spiritual home of a congregation.”

Investigation revealed that O’Dell was linked through cell phone records, credit card transactions, and surveillance video to the fire at Maltby, Washington, church on August 25, 2023. She had been visiting relatives in Woodinville, Washington, at the time of the incident. Surveillance footage showed her carrying a red gasoline container around the church before setting it ablaze.

The fire caused over $3.2 million in damage to the church, which has since incurred additional costs for renting space to continue services. One firefighter suffered injuries during the blaze and was transported to an emergency room. O’Dell admitted to acquaintances her anger towards churches, particularly SLLC, and her intent to burn a nearby church.

The case was investigated by the Snohomish County Fire Marshall’s Office and the Bureau of Tobacco, Alcohol, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Todd Greenberg. Restitution will be determined at a later date by Judge Whitehead.

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