Natasha Marie O’Dell, a 38-year-old Texas woman, received a six-year federal prison sentence Thursday for deliberately setting fire to a Snohomish County church in 2023, causing more than $3.2 million in damage.
U.S. District Judge Jamal N. Whitehead sentenced O’Dell, who pleaded guilty in April to arson, damage to religious property, and obstructing persons in the free exercise of religious beliefs. The judge emphasised the profound impact on the congregation during sentencing.
“This offense was devastating and dangerous,” Whitehead said. “You burned down the spiritual home of a congregation. The wounds you have inflicted deepen for each day they are away from their home.”
Prosecutors said O’Dell travelled to western Washington in August 2023 to visit relatives in Woodinville before deliberately targeting the Seattle Laestadian Lutheran Church in Maltby. Video surveillance captured her pouring gasoline on the building’s exterior and using a lighter to ignite the flames.
The fire destroyed the church and injured one firefighter responding to the scene. Investigators linked O’Dell to the crime through credit card purchases of gasoline and lighters, as well as an Uber ride to the church location.
Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller highlighted the broader safety risks created by O’Dell’s actions. “Ms. O’Dell acted with extreme disregard for community safety,” Miller said. “This conduct put anyone inside the church, the neighbours around the church, and the firefighters who responded in extreme danger.”
The case raises questions about what motivated O’Dell to target a specific religious congregation located far from her Texas home. The deliberate nature of her actions, including purchasing supplies and arranging transportation, suggests premeditation rather than an impulsive act.
The Seattle Laestadian Lutheran Church represents a small, close-knit religious community with roots in Scandinavian tradition. The destruction of their worship space forced the congregation to rent facilities at a nearby middle school for services, disrupting established community patterns and traditions.
The investigation involved the Snohomish County Fire Marshal’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, demonstrating the multi-agency coordination required for federal arson cases. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd Greenberg.
The judge will determine restitution amounts at a later hearing. Given the $3.2 million damage estimate, O’Dell likely faces substantial financial obligations beyond her prison sentence, though her ability to pay such amounts remains unclear.
The six-year sentence reflects the serious nature of arson crimes targeting religious institutions. Federal law provides enhanced penalties for attacks on religious property, recognising both the safety risks and the particular harm to communities’ spiritual life.
For the Maltby community, the sentencing provides legal closure whilst the congregation continues rebuilding efforts. The case highlights the vulnerability of rural religious institutions and the lasting impact of deliberate attacks on places of worship.
