Arrest Made in Church Arson Case

Posted Wednesday, November 2, 2005

 E-mail this page    Printer-friendly page

FORSYTH COUNTY, Georgia – An arrest was made late today in two recent church arson cases which involved churches in both Forsyth and Cobb Counties. Nathaniel Lombardo, 23, of Woodstock, Georgia was taken into custody just before 8:00 pm tonight in relation to events which occurred in the early morning of October 17.

Lombardo, who resides at the Paces Apartments, is being held in the Cobb County Detention Center. He is being charged by Forsyth County with one (1) count of second degree arson, one (1) count of burglary and one (1) count of vandalism. Lombardo is also facing charges by Cobb County. The Forsyth County charges will be jointly processed by the Fire Department and Sheriff’s Office.

“We received back sufficient evidence to issue a warrant today,” said Forsyth County Fire Department Lieutenant Kevin Wallace, Forsyth’s lead arson investigator on the case. “All parties involved have been working diligently to make progress in this case.”

At approximately 9:00 a.m. Monday October 17, members of the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses on Doctor Bramblett Road in Forsyth County discovered there had been forced entry to the main door. A flammable liquid had been poured in the entranceway as well as through part of the sanctuary and ignited. The fire did not spread and no structural damage was incurred. Additionally, a Jehovah's Witnesses church in Acworth was damaged by arson fire earlier that same morning.

Forsyth County Fire Department and Sheriff’s Office, Cherokee County Fire Department and Sheriff’s Office, Cobb County Fire Department, Acworth Police Department and Woodstock Police Department have collaborated extensively on this case and have received assistance from the Georgia State Fire Marshall’s Office and the Federal Department of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Forsyth County Public Information Office
110 E. Main Street ▪ Cumming, Georgia 30040 ▪ www.forsythco.com

 E-mail this page
 Printer-friendly page