A Texas woman has pleaded guilty to charges related to the arson of a Snohomish County church, according to court records. Natasha Marie O'Dell, a 38-year-old from Temple, Texas, entered her plea in U.S. District Court in Seattle on three felony counts stemming from the August 2023 incident.
The U.S. Attorney's Office announced that O'Dell admitted to setting fire to Seattle Laestadian Lutheran Church, which resulted in extensive damage valued at over $3.2 million. Scheduled for sentencing on August 7, O'Dell could face up to 40 years for obstructing the exercise of religious beliefs, and up to 20 years for the arson itself.
Evidence presented in court linked O'Dell to the scene both through cell phone and credit card records, along with surveillance video footage. According to the plea agreement, she purchased gasoline and lighters at a local service station before taking an Uber to the church. Security footage survived the fire, showing O'Dell pouring gasoline on church property before setting it ablaze. One firefighter was injured during the response to the incident.
In her plea, O'Dell acknowledged her anger towards churches in general and SLLC in particular. She had reportedly told others about her intentions to target a nearby church. Since the fire, the congregation has relied on a rented middle school space for worship services. The investigation into the arson involved both the Snohomish County Fire Marshall's Office and the Bureau of Tobacco, Alcohol, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
