KAYSVILLE — A Wyoming woman faces a first-degree felony charge after authorities say she started a blaze in a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints building where she and relatives were preparing for a wedding the following day.
Lenita Joy Moreno, 25, was taken into custody Monday and booked into the Davis County Jail on suspicion of aggravated arson, as well as two misdemeanors: retail theft under $500 and providing false information to police, according to a police booking affidavit.
What happened
Just after 10 p.m. on July 10, Kaysville police and the fire department responded to the meetinghouse at 198 W. Center Street to investigate a reported fire. Officials say a family — including the groom and his bride-to-be — were setting up for a ceremony scheduled for the next day when the fire alarm activated.
Church members discovered a fire in the Relief Society room. Those on site used water from wedding decorations and a fire extinguisher to put out the flames. Investigators later determined the blaze began underneath a chair that was stacked along a wall.
"When the fire was lit, there was a total of six people within the building. The cost of building repair to date is just over $108,000," the affidavit said.
Evidence and investigation
Investigators found items near the ignition point that they described as unusual, including what appeared to be a tampon with its applicator, which was collected as evidence. The case drew assistance from the state fire marshal and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, according to the affidavit.
In the days following the incident, detectives interviewed those present. The groom told officers that the bride-to-be initially identified herself as "Tessa Moran" but was later confirmed to be Moreno. He said he and Moreno had been in the Relief Society room minutes before the alarm sounded, and that earlier that night the pair had visited an Ace Hardware and a Chevron to purchase hooks and drinks.
Surveillance footage obtained from the hardware store, police say, shows Moreno allegedly taking two or three lighters and concealing them — slipping one beneath her shirt and placing another in her shoe — before leaving the store without paying for the lighters. An Ace employee reported the theft to police, according to the affidavit.
Charges and potential penalties
Authorities booked Moreno on one count of aggravated arson, a charge that can carry severe penalties if convicted, and on two misdemeanors related to theft and false reporting. The affidavit lists the building repair cost to date at just over $108,000, but it does not provide a final damage estimate or any updates on the status of the upcoming wedding.
Below is a brief timeline and the charges listed in court documents:
- July 10, ~10:00 p.m. — Fire reported at meetinghouse during wedding setup.
- Investigation — Fire origin identified under stacked chairs; unusual items collected as evidence.
- Afterward — Surveillance shows alleged theft of lighters from Ace Hardware; suspect identified under a false name.
- Charges — Aggravated arson (felony), retail theft under $500 (misdemeanor), providing false information to police (misdemeanor).
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Suspect | Lenita Joy Moreno, 25 |
| Location | Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 198 W. Center St., Kaysville |
| Reported damage | Repairs to date: just over $108,000 |
| Agencies involved | Kaysville Police, Kaysville Fire Department, state fire marshal, ATF |
Local impact and context
Meetinghouses of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints frequently serve as gathering places for ceremonies, community meetings and other events. A disruption or damage to a single building can displace multiple activities and impose repair costs on local congregations. The involvement of federal and state investigators in this case underscores the seriousness with which authorities treated the incident.
At this stage, court documents provide the basis for charges, but they do not determine guilt. Prosecutors will decide whether to pursue the aggravated arson count, and the case may involve additional evidence developed by the agencies assisting the investigation.
Anyone with information related to the incident was encouraged by police to come forward; the affidavit does not indicate whether additional arrests are expected.
This article will be updated as court records and law enforcement releases provide more detail.
