A woman has been detained for allegedly igniting a fire outside a church in El Paso, Texas, with accusations of delivering offensive notes to the location before a Charlie Kirk vigil, according to a report.
Marynka Marquez, 35, hailing from Denton, faces charges of arson following the episode at Beth El Bible Church last Wednesday, as stated by the El Paso Police Department.
“During their response, police determined that a woman had approached the church, placed a sizable bag against its outer wall, set it ablaze, and then departed,” authorities remarked. “Fortunately, a pastor exiting the church witnessed the fire and promptly extinguished it.”
An arrest affidavit mentioned by KFOX14 stated that Marquez also left a bag inside the church, where a vigil for Kirk was scheduled the next day. Within the bag, a paper plate was discovered containing the message, “C Kirk is eating p— and s— in h—,” along with, “Soon you’ll help him eat and drink it all,” as per the affidavit cited by the station.
Charlie Kirk delivers remarks at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, 2025, in Orem, Utah, before his tragic death. (Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune/Getty Images)
Marquez was arrested on Sept. 18 and was booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility on a $50,000 bond.
On the day this occurred, Marquez informed volunteers at the church that she wished to leave a package for the Kirk vigil, as detailed by KFOX14 and the affidavit. A volunteer escorted her to the front stage where a bag was left, according to the report.
The affidavit also reportedly said a volunteer who discovered the contents of the bag told police it was a direct threat to the church to intimidate the vigil for the late conservative activist.
A video clip shows Charlie Kirk at a speaking event in Utah the day he was killed, during the public memorial service for Kirk at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (Getty Images)
“Beth El Bible Church is disheartened that we face these circumstances,” the church told the station following Marquez’s arrest. “We believe in letting the local authorities do what they are called to do. As a church, we choose to forgive. We give thanks to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, for his protection of our facilities and our lives.”
