Scott Gregory Taylor, a 36-year-old man from Raymore, Missouri, has been charged with second-degree arson in connection to a fire that destroyed Harmony Baptist Church in rural Leeton, Johnson County in July 2020. The Johnson County Prosecuting Attorney, Robert W. Russell, filed the charges against Taylor after he was arrested by Kansas City police. Taylor is currently being held in the Jackson County jail on a $25,000 cash bond.
The fire, which was determined to be arson, completely destroyed the over 100-year-old church, leading to its closure and subsequent demolition. Security camera footage recovered from the church showed a man setting the fire in the location where investigators believed it originated. Fire Chief Larry Jennings expressed relief that an arrest had been made in the case that had a significant impact on the community, as the loss of a landmark and place of worship is always challenging for a small community.
In July, the Johnson County Fire Protection District and Missouri State Fire Marshal had announced a renewed effort to solve the arson case and had called for anyone with information to come forward. Chief Jennings thanked the community for their assistance and encouraged anyone with additional information to contact the Missouri Arson Hotline at 1-800-392-7766. The ongoing investigation aims to bring justice for the destruction of the historic church.
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Photo credit fox4kc.com
