A bride-to-be was arrested in Utah after authorities say she set fire to a Mormon church using a tampon just one day before she was scheduled to get married.
Lenita “Tessa” Joy Moreno, 25, of Wyoming, is accused of igniting a blaze inside a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints building in Kaysville earlier this month, leaving more than $108,000 in damage, according to KUTV News.
Investigators concluded the fire was intentionally started beneath a chair inside the church with several unusual materials, including what they described as “what appeared to be a tampon.”
Earlier that day, surveillance video allegedly captured Moreno taking two to three lighters from a nearby hardware store and hiding them in her shirt and shoe.
“It is believed that Lenita started a fire within a church building while five others were still inside,” a probable cause affidavit obtained by KUTV stated.
The affidavit also alleged: “Lenita did not obtain a marriage license for her own wedding that was to occur the following day after the fire but had lied stating she had.”
Moreno was arrested Monday and charged with aggravated arson, retail theft and providing false information to a peace officer.
The arrest came more than two weeks after police and firefighters responded to the Kaysville Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 198 West Center Street, where a fire was reported shortly after 10pm on July 10.
Lenita ‘Tessa’ Joy Moreno, 25, of Wyoming, is accused of setting fire to an LDS church in Kaysville, Utah, on July 10 – just one day before her wedding ceremony was set to take place inside
Fire investigators determined the blaze had been deliberately set beneath a chair inside the building using unusual items, ‘including what appeared to be a tampon’ according to KUTV News
Inside, family members told police they had been setting up for the next day’s ceremony and were preparing to leave when the fire alarm suddenly went off, according to a police booking affidavit obtained by KUTV and KSL News.
They said that after spotting flames in the Relief Society room, one person attempted to douse the blaze with water from wedding decorations while another used a fire extinguisher.
During the initial investigation, authorities determined the fire had been deliberately set beneath a chair that was stacked against the wall.
‘Under one of the chairs appeared to be items that were out of the ordinary, including what appeared to be a tampon with the applicator on the floor,’ the affidavit read, according to KSL.
The groom told investigators that he and his fiancée had been inside the Relief Society room just minutes before the fire alarm went off.
Police also noted that the woman initially identified herself as Tessa Moran, but was later confirmed to be Moreno, KSL reports.
‘The cost of building repair to date is just over $108,000,’ the affidavit said.
In the days following the fire, investigators interviewed those who were present at the scene, including the unidentified groom, who said he and Moreno had gone to Ace Hardware and Chevron that night to purchase drinks and decor hooks.
On Monday, Moreno was arrested and charged with aggravated arson, retail theft and providing false information to a peace officer
According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by KUTV, Moreno lit the fire while ‘five others were still inside’ and ‘did not obtain a marriage license for her own wedding that was to occur the following day after the fire but had lied stating she had’
Employees at Ace Hardware confirmed the visit, and surveillance footage soon showed Moreno walking toward the lighters, secretly snatching an unknown number of them and hiding them on her.
According to the documents, Moreno’s fiancé was not nearby when she allegedly grabbed the lighters. The couple ultimately left Ace Hardware after paying only for the hooks.
During a police interview, Moreno admitted to stealing when confronted about the incident, but refused to tell investigators what specific items she had walked out with, the affidavit said.
When questioned about having a lighter, she allegedly told police she did not carry one and would have no reason to because she does not smoke.
‘Lenita is from out of state and through the investigation has been found to continually be deceptive and take drastic steps to hide her lies,’ the affidavit said, according to KSL.
The bride-to-be was booked into the Davis County Jail on multiple charges, where she remains held without bail.
The investigation involved Kaysville police and fire officials, the fire marshal’s office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The Daily Mail has reached out to Kaysville police and fire officials for comment.
