Full Breakdown
Utah Woman Charged with Arson After Fire at LDS Church Ahead of Wedding
7/28/2026, 7:47:38 AM
Alleged Arson and Immediate Response
On July 10, the Kaysville Fire Department requested police assistance for a fire at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints meetinghouse located at 198 W Center St. Fire officials, the fire marshal and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) began an investigation. The blaze ignited in the Relief Society room while a bride, groom and the groom’s family were arranging decorations for a wedding scheduled for the following day. Several occupants reported the alarm, used water from the wedding décor and a fire extinguisher, and extinguished the flames.
Investigation Findings
Surveillance footage from Ace Hardware and a nearby Chevron captured Lenita “Tessa” Moreno, 25, allegedly removing two to three lighters from the hardware store, slipping one beneath her shirt and placing another in her shoe before rejoining her fiancé. Investigators later recovered a tampon and other items from beneath a stack of chairs where the fire originated; the ATF took these items as evidence. During a July 27 interview, Moreno reportedly admitted to providing police with a false birthdate. The arresting officer described Moreno as an out-of-state resident who had repeatedly been deceptive, including fabricating a marriage-license claim that never materialized.
Charges and Custody
Moreno has been charged with aggravated arson (a first-degree felony), two misdemeanor counts of retail theft, and providing false information to police. She was booked into the Davis County Jail without bail and remains detained pending trial. All arrested individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Estimated Damage
Preliminary assessments indicate that repairing the fire damage will exceed $108,000.
