CABELL COUNTY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A man has confessed to setting multiple fires at Brighter Day Ministries Church in Lesage, following two separate arson incidents on May 14, 2025.
The first fire was reported around 12:16 p.m. at the church, located in the 4000 block of Nine Mile Road. Fire crews quickly responded and extinguished the flames, later determining the blaze had been intentionally set on the woodline side of the building. Just over two hours later, at approximately 2:49 p.m., a second alarm was raised for more fires at the same location.
When fire personnel arrived for the second time, they discovered multiple unconnected fires across different parts of the church and at the door of a separate fellowship hall building on the property. The suspicious nature of the fires prompted a request for a fire investigator to respond.
On May 16, investigators with the Cabell County authorities and the State Fire Marshal’s Office interviewed the suspect—whose name has not yet been released—at his residence on Hardesty Lane. The individual voluntarily agreed to be interviewed at the Ohio River Road Volunteer Fire Department and offered to take a polygraph test.
During the initial interview with West Virginia State Police Sgt. J. Dick, the man admitted to willfully and maliciously setting the fires. He later provided a full confession, stating he walked from his home to the church, set the first fire, returned home, then walked back and set multiple additional fires at both the church and the fellowship hall before returning home again.
Charges are expected to be filed, and the investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with additional information about the case is encouraged to contact local law enforcement or the West Virginia State Fire Marshal’s Office.
