UPDATE: Authorities have arrested four more teenagers in connection with a fire set at a Brown County church. Officers have linked Nathan Bauermeister, Jonathan Mings, Dalton Poe, and Cody Watts to last Wednesday's arson at the Grandview Apostolic Church in Nashville.
Thursday, Stephen Moore and a 17-year-old juvenile were arrested for the crime.
No word yet on a motive.
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Authorities have arrested two teenagers accused of setting fire to a Brown County church. The two suspects, 18-year-old Stephen Moore of Columbus and a 17-year-old juvenile, are also accused of spraying graffiti on church property.
The fire destroyed the Grand View Apostolic Church last week. The township actually owned the building, but had been leasing the space to church members for the last two decades.
The 18-year-old suspect from Columbus is no stranger to the police department. They told Fox59 Stephen Moore was arrested him just a few months ago. Now, Stephen Moore faces even more trouble in Brown County.
The state fire marshall arrested him and a 17-year-old boy Wednesday night saying they were the ones who set the Grandview Apostolic Church on fire last week.
"What were they thinking? It's beyond my comprehension," said Nettie Walls, Van Buren Township Trustee.
Van Buren Township owned the church and had been allowing the congregation to use the building for the last 20 years. Investigators aren't releasing any details about the motive, the only clue is the harsh language found spray painted on the church bus.
"I was always taught you respect the house of God. You may not want to go to the house of God but you respect that house."
Detectives said Stephen Moore was arrested two times this year, for possession of marijuana and illegal consumption of alcohol.
"This has been a real blow to the community. It's a significant event and really pleased to make the arrests," said Brown County Prosecutor Jim Oliver.
What happens next to the burned historic landmark remains unknown. The township said they don't have the money to rebuild.
"It's just a piece of history that is lost," said Walls.
