Holden Matthews, a 22-year-old man from Louisiana, confessed to setting on fire churches that were visited mainly by African-American citizens in 2019, so he could raise his image as “black metal.”
Holden pleaded guilty in court on Monday, and as a result, he will be facing several federal and state charges. The exact length of his sentence will be determined on May 22, and he may spend up to 70 years behind bars.
According to the defendant, he set three churches on fire over the course of March and April 2019, because of the religious character of those buildings.
As a result of his actions, the Baptist churches St. Mary, Greater Union and Mount Pleasant were all destroyed.
Besides, he reportedly filmed each one of his arsons so that he could share photos and video clips of his doings on social media.
Matthews, who is also the son of a sheriff’s deputy, got his inspiration for the arsons from the notorious musician Varg Vikernes, who was famous for his neo-Nazi beliefs and torching churches in Norway.
It was also discovered that the defendant was a devoted follower of paganism, and his activity on social media showed he often posted about his religious views.
However, Holden was first suspected for the burning of the churches when investigators connected a gas can, which was discovered in one of the ruins to the one that Matthews bought with his debit card earlier.
Furthermore, Holden’s vehicle was seen near two of the burnt churches on the nights that they were each destroyed.
When the arrest was first made, online commenters were unsure that justice could get done. One of them said at the time: “He thought he was untouchable. Touch. (He most likely will get a slap on the wrist tho..eye roll).”
A second person explained: “That’s because the kkk always disguises themselves behind the badge and their family members….that’s who started the police dept the kkk.”
A keen observer added: “Y’all screaming look who his daddy was, when his dad the one who turned him NOT always the parents fault for how their child comes out.”
This comment read: “I question his up bring? Regardless of the fact that his father turned him in that kind of behavior is learnt from early on and then developed.”
Dustin Talbot, Matthews’s lawyer still claims that race was not a major factor in the case.
