A 25-year-old bride-to-be has been arrested for allegedly setting fire to a Mormon church in Utah the day before her scheduled wedding. Lenita 'Tessa' Joy Moreno of Wyoming was charged with aggravated arson, retail theft, and providing false information to a peace officer after investigators determined she deliberately started a fire inside the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Kaysville on July 10.
The fire caused over $108,000 in damage, and investigators found that it was started under a chair using unusual items, including what appeared to be a tampon. Surveillance footage allegedly showed Moreno stealing two to three lighters from a local hardware store before the incident.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Moreno did not obtain a marriage license for her wedding but had lied about having one. The fire occurred while five others were still inside the church, including family members who were setting up for the ceremony. They used water from wedding decorations and a fire extinguisher to extinguish the flames.
Moreno was arrested on July 25, more than two weeks after the fire. The incident has raised questions about her motives and the circumstances leading up to the alleged arson.