Suspect in Arson at Planned Parenthood Clinic Cited Ex-Girlfriend’s Abortion, U.S. Says - The New York Times

A antheral accused of firebombing a Planned Parenthood session successful Peoria, Ill., earlier this period told investigators that helium had done truthful aft recalling an termination a erstwhile woman erstwhile had against his wishes, adding that helium hoped the occurrence would hold others successful having abortions, according to national authorities.

The man, Tyler W. Massengill, 32, was arrested and charged this week with malicious usage of occurrence and an explosive to damage, and effort to damage, the Planned Parenthood building, the Justice Department said successful a quality release connected Wednesday.

Mr. Massengill initially denied the charges, but aboriginal admitted that helium had acceptable occurrence to the building, explaining that helium had been upset aft being reminded of a erstwhile woman who, 3 years earlier, had informed Mr. Massengill by telephone that she was having an abortion, the authorities said. Mr. Massengill was distant moving successful Alaska astatine the time, portion his erstwhile woman was successful Peoria, helium told investigators.

If the onslaught caused “a small delay” successful a idiosyncratic receiving services astatine the clinic, helium told investigators, his actions whitethorn person been “all worthy it.”

It is unclear from the charging documents what mightiness person reminded Mr. Massengill of the erstwhile girlfriend’s abortion. The onslaught connected the Peoria Health Center, connected Jan. 15, came conscionable days aft sweeping termination protections were signed into instrumentality successful Illinois.

The occurrence caused “significant damage” to the clinic, which has closed its doors to patients, perchance for respective months oregon more, according to tribunal documents. Earlier this month, occurrence officials estimated the harm astatine much than $150,000, portion Planned Parenthood said it would astir apt transcend $1 million.

According to a transgression ailment filed successful the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois, surveillance footage from that evening shows a antheral arriving astatine the session astatine astir 11:20 p.m., wearing a overgarment with a hood pulled up, and holding a “laundry-detergent-sized bottle.” The antheral lit a rag stuffed into the extremity of the vessel connected fire, smashed 1 of the clinic’s windows open, and enactment the vessel inside, documents say.

Investigators said that the motortruck that appeared successful surveillance footage — a 1996 achromatic Dodge Dakota with reddish doors — matched the statement fixed by a bystander. On Monday, investigators said, they received a extremity from a pistillate claiming that Mr. Massengill had near his pickup motortruck astatine her location successful Sparland, Ill., astir 26 miles northbound of the clinic, and requested that she overgarment the reddish doors achromatic for $300.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation seized Mr. Massengill’s motortruck that day. On Tuesday, Mr. Massengill turned himself successful to the Peoria Police Department.

According to tribunal records, Mr. Massengill was sentenced successful 2008 to 3 years successful a situation successful Tazewell County, Ill., for burglary. In March, helium besides pleaded blameworthy successful a tribunal successful Peoria County, Ill., to a complaint of aggravated assault.

It was not instantly wide connected Tuesday if Mr. Massengill had a lawyer, and efforts to scope his household members were unsuccessful.

If convicted connected the complaint of malicious usage of fire, Mr. Massengill would look a mandatory minimum condemnation of 5 years successful prison, and could person up to 40 years, according to the Justice Department. The charges besides transportation up to 3 years of supervised merchandise and a imaginable good of up to $250,000.