View Full Version : Florida church arsons


MegtheEgg86
04-30-2011, 08:31 PM
Does anyone remember this? This was a Special Alert segment that aired sometime in the early 90s. Something like 15 churches across Florida were targeted by arsonists, the first of which was an Ocala Baptist church in 1991 or '92 that was over 80 years old. A task force in Gainesville was formed and was investigating at the time. Anyone know if anything ever came of this?

crystaldawn
04-30-2011, 09:26 PM
I did find an article that stated they eventually linked them to a drifter named Patrick Lee Frank.

http://congregationalsecurityinc.com/blog/2010/03/string-of-fires-hit-many-churches/

MegtheEgg86
04-30-2011, 10:25 PM
"A diagnosed paranoid schizophrenic, he believed churches were trying to control him and burned the buildings to fight back," The Gainesville Sun reported earlier this year.

Frank remained institutionalized for about fifteen years in connection with the fires. He was apparently released in 2008, The Sun reported.

Whew that was quick! Thanks, great find. That's very sad. He was a very ill man it seems. :(

wiseguy182
05-01-2011, 02:16 AM
there was a similar segment regarding black church fires in the south.

sadly, alot of churches were burned down in the south in the 90's

kane7474
05-01-2011, 02:49 AM
there was a similar segment regarding black church fires in the south.

sadly, alot of churches were burned down in the south in the 90's
Yes and alot of them where being burned by the people that ran them for insurance money. Imagine that, Church people doing something dishonest and corrupt. Blows my mind lol