A Temple, Texas woman has been sentenced to six years in federal prison for setting fire to the Seattle Laestadian Lutheran Church (SLLC) in Snohomish County, Washington. Natasha Marie O’Dell, 38, was convicted of arson, damage to religious property, and obstruction of persons in the free exercise of religious beliefs. The sentencing took place in U.S. District Court in Seattle.
O’Dell has been held since her arrest in Texas in August 2024. She pleaded guilty to the charges in April 2025. At sentencing, U.S. District Judge Jamal N. Whitehead stated, “This offense was devastating and dangerous. Ms. O’Dell deliberately set fire to a church causing complete destruction. … The scope of the destruction is staggering. You burned down the spiritual home of a congregation. … The wounds you have inflicted deepen for each day they are away from their home.”
Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller commented on the severity of O’Dell’s actions: “Ms. O’Dell acted with extreme disregard for community safety when she poured more than a gallon of gasoline on the church building and used a lighter to start the blaze,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Miller. “This conduct put anyone inside the church, the neighbors around the church, and the firefighters who responded in extreme danger. It is fortunate that only one firefighter suffered injuries.”
Court documents and federal indictment records showed that cell phone data, credit card transactions, and surveillance video linked O’Dell to the August 25, 2023 fire at SLLC in Maltby, Washington. During this period, she was visiting relatives nearby in Woodinville.
Surviving footage from the church’s security system captured O’Dell carrying a red gasoline container around the building and pouring its contents on exterior walls and surrounding items before igniting them with a lighter; flames appeared shortly after she moved out of camera range.
Investigators also connected her through purchases made at a local service station—just over a gallon of gasoline and lighters—and confirmed she traveled by Uber to commit the act.
In her plea agreement, O’Dell admitted expressing anger toward churches and specifically SLLC to acquaintances prior to the incident; she later told another person about plans to burn a nearby church.
One firefighter sustained injuries while battling the blaze and required emergency medical attention.
The fire resulted in more than $3.2 million in damages to SLLC’s property. As a result, congregants have had to rent space at a nearby middle school for services multiple times per week.
Judge Whitehead will address restitution at an upcoming hearing.
The investigation was led by the Snohomish County Fire Marshall’s Office along with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Assistant United States Attorney Todd Greenberg prosecuted the case.
