As previously reported, a young black metal musician, Holden Matthews, has been arrested in connection with a string of church burnings.
The first fire occurred on March 26 at St. Mary Baptist Church in Port Barre. The second occurred at Greater Union Baptist Church in Opelousas on April 2. The third occurred on April 4 at Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Opelousas.
While the motive is still under investigation, authorities said that Matthews‘ interest in black metal music may have influenced his behavior.
The state fire marshal’s office said in a statement:
“Information investigators have uncovered, and that Matthews has offered, suggests a possible connection with a genre of music called ‘black metal’ and its associated history with church burnings in other parts of the world, which have been documented in movies and books.”
As earlier reported, 18-year-old Jillian Nicole Robinson set fire to two church buildings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Orem, Utah. She also wrote “Satan Lives” on the door jam in permanent marker.
And recently, it was reported, that Jacob Lowenstein, the 28-year-old drummer for the New Zealand black metal band IGNI, has been charged with setting two Mormon churches on fire.
