What started as a personal grudge ended in flames and a federal prison sentence.
A Missouri man who admitted to torching a local church building after an argument with a religious leader has now been sentenced to over nine years behind bars—and ordered to pay millions in damages.
A Bitter Feud That Escalated into Arson
Back in April 2021, Christopher Scott Pritchard, now 49, carried out a shocking act of destruction by setting fire to a house of worship belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS) in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
Authorities say the motive stemmed from a heated verbal dispute Pritchard had with the church’s bishop just days earlier.
During that confrontation, he reportedly threatened both to assault the bishop and to burn the church down. Sadly, he followed through on one of those threats.
Watching the Flames He Set
On the evening of April 28, 2021, Pritchard set the building ablaze—and then stood nearby watching the fire burn.
It wasn’t long before deputies from the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff’s Office tracked him down about a mile and a half from the scene.
Officers immediately noted the smell of smoke on him.
Even more telling, he was carrying a backpack stuffed with electronics and 21 apples—all stolen from the church.
Destroyed Building, Disrupted Worship
The fire completely gutted the church, leaving the congregation without a space to gather and worship. Thankfully, no one was physically harmed during the incident.
But for many, the loss ran deeper than bricks and mortar—it interrupted the spiritual routines and community support that a house of worship provides.
Justice Finally Served
On May 21, 2025, U.S. District Judge Matthew T. Schelp handed down Pritchard’s sentence: 111 months in federal prison.
He was also ordered to pay an enormous restitution bill—just under $7 million—to cover the full cost of the damage.
Pritchard had already pleaded guilty to one count of arson and one count of violating the Church Arson Prevention Act back in December 2024.
Federal Officials Condemn the Attack
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division didn’t mince words in her response.
“There is no place in America for criminal acts against houses of worship,” she said, praising the team of law enforcement officials who brought Pritchard to justice.
Multi-Agency Effort Brought Case to Trial
This case brought together several law enforcement agencies, including the FBI’s St. Louis Field Office, the ATF, the Missouri State Fire Marshal’s Office, and the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff’s Office.
The investigation and successful prosecution were handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Hahn, with help from the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section.