Alabama Department of Insurance

Two rural churches were burglarized and set on fire today in an attempt to conceal the burglaries.  Bethabara Baptist Church located on Fayette County Road 47 near Fayette and Popular Springs Primitive Baptist Church located at 2271 Marion County Road 72 near Winfield, were broken into before being set on fire.  Both fires were discovered by church deacons who had come to open the churches for Sunday Services.

Investigators with the Fayette and Marion County Sheriff’s Offices and the Alabama State Fire Marshals Office are working the investigations and are requesting anyone with information that may identify those involved in these crimes to call the Alabama Arson Prevention Task Force hotline at 1-800-654-0775 or the Alabama State Fire Marshals Office 334-241-4166.