A woman in El Paso, Texas, is facing charges for allegedly starting a fire outside a church. This incident took place just before a vigil for Charlie Kirk, and there were claims that she distributed a disturbing message at the church beforehand.
The El Paso Police Department identified 35-year-old Mary Marquez from Denton as the suspect in the incident at Beth El Bible Church last Wednesday. According to police reports, Marquez placed a large bag against the church’s wall, set it on fire, and then left. Fortunately, the pastor discovered the flames shortly after and was able to extinguish them.
Reports indicate that Marquez also left a bag inside the church, where a meeting was set to occur for Kirk the following day. Inside this bag, authorities found a paper plate with threatening words directed at Kirk. One message included phrases that seemed quite explicit, prompting concerns. Another plate contained the lines, “C is for co-ill, C is for conservatives, C is for control,” which suggests a clear intent to instill fear.
The investigation led police to track down Marquez by tracing a business card found in her bag. Police confirmed the presence of “hateful words” on the items she had left behind.
Marquez was arrested on September 18 and is currently held at the El Paso County Detention Facility with a bond set at $50,000. On the day of the incident, she reportedly told church volunteers she intended to remove a package meant for the Kirk vigil, which led one volunteer to escort her to the stage. There, Marquez left her bag.
Following Marquez’s arrest, the church expressed its disappointment over the situation, stating, “We believe in letting local authorities do what they are called to do. As a church, we choose to forgive. We thank our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for protecting our facilities and our lives.”
