Charred ruins are all that remains of this Church from an apparent act of arsen that took place in 2009.
2 Arrested in Connection with 2009 Church Burning, LIVINGSTON, April 30, 2010 - On June 26, 2009, the church at Corvelle Cemetery was burned to the ground. The fire was reported by a citizen who lived in the area who observed flames through the woods. By the time the Scenic Loop Fire Department arrived, the wood frame structure was already burned to the ground. The church was over 100 years old and was used for occasional funeral services at the cemetery.
Polk County Fire Marshal Jay Barbee conducted an investigation into the cause of the fire and determined the fire was started with an unknown incendiary device. Barbee classified the fire as arson.
On March 1, 2010 Polk County Crime Stoppers received an anonymous tip identifying two suspects who started the fire. The information given stated that the two suspects started the fire in retaliation for charges that were filed on three juveniles and one adult in connection with a February 2008 criminal mischief at the same church. The information advised that one of the suspects who started the fire was one of the juveniles originally charged with class C criminal mischief in 2008. The other suspect who was identified as starting the fire was involved in the 2008 criminal mischief but was never charged or identified by the Sheriff's Office as being a suspect in the criminal mischief incidents.
Barbee and Polk County Sheriff's Detective Richard Delaney followed up on the information and were able to determine the Crime Stoppers tip was correct. Arrest warrants were issued by Justice of the Peace Precinct 1 Darrell Longino on the charge of arson with intent to destroy a place of worship.
On April 27, 2010, Detective Delaney and Marshal Barbee arrested Sunny Joseph Adams, 18, at his residence in Polk County. Two days later (April 29), Delaney arrested Herman Howard Kinder, V, also 18, at Shepherd High School.
Detective Delaney believes the two suspects burned the church down in retaliation for the 2008 criminal charges being filed against them and their friends. Delaney and Barbee did confirm that Herman Howard Kinder was involved in the 2008 criminal mischief but was never identified by law enforcement.
Polk County Fire Marshal Jay Barbee (left) and Detective Richard Delaney were able to solve the case with help from the public.
Sunny Joseph Adams, 18, was arrested on April 27th at his residence in Polk County.
Herman Howard Kinder, V, 18, was arrested on April 29th at Shepherd High School.
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