LSD Use Linked to Southern Indiana Church Arson

Investigators say a group of teenagers decided to burn down a rural southern Indiana church after taking LSD and coming to believe that it belonged to Satan worshippers.

Court documents filed in Brown County court say six 18-year-old men and a 17-year-old male from Columbus agreed days in advance to burn down the Grandview Apostolic Church.

State fire investigator Timothy Murray reported that the 17-year-old admitted pouring gasoline on the ground next to the church and setting the fire July 14. Murray, however, said all the teens were “on board with the arson.”

The seven teenagers have been arrested on felony arson charges.

Brown County Prosecutor Jim Oliver says there is no reason to believe anything unusual about the church.

The fire destroyed the church, which was built in 1892.