A woman from Temple, Texas, has been sentenced to six years in federal prison for setting fire to the Seattle Laestadian Lutheran Church (SLLC) in Snohomish County, Washington. Natasha Marie O’Dell, 38, was convicted of three federal felonies: arson, damage to religious property, and obstruction of persons in the free exercise of religious beliefs. She has been held since her arrest in Texas in August 2024.
U.S. District Judge Jamal N. Whitehead addressed O’Dell at sentencing: “This offense was devastating and dangerous. Ms. O’Dell deliberately set fire to a church causing complete destruction. … The scope of the destruction is staggering. You burned down the spiritual home of a congregation. … The wounds you have inflicted deepen for each day they are away from their home.”
Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller commented on the case: “Ms. O’Dell acted with extreme disregard for community safety when she poured more than a gallon of gasoline on the church building and used a lighter to start the blaze,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Miller. “This conduct put anyone inside the church, the neighbors around the church, and the firefighters who responded in extreme danger. It is fortunate that only one firefighter suffered injuries.”
Investigators linked O’Dell to the August 25, 2023 fire through cell phone records, credit card transactions showing purchases of gasoline and lighters at a local service station, and surveillance video footage that survived part of the blaze despite significant damage to equipment at the Maltby-area church.
Video evidence showed O’Dell pouring gasoline around exterior walls and items near the church before starting the fire; flames appeared shortly after she moved out of camera range.
O’Dell admitted in her plea agreement that she had expressed anger about churches—specifically SLLC—and told others about plans to burn a nearby church.
One firefighter sustained injuries while battling the fire and required emergency medical care.
The total damage from the incident exceeded $3.2 million, not including additional expenses incurred by SLLC for renting space at a local middle school to continue holding services several times per week.
Restitution owed by O’Dell will be determined during a future court hearing.
The investigation involved both the Snohomish County Fire Marshall’s Office and agents from ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives). Assistant United States Attorney Todd Greenberg prosecuted this case.
