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Illinois man pleads guilty in Planned Parenthood clinic fire

Tyler Massengill, who pleaded guilty Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023, to "malicious use of fire"

This booking photo provided by the Peoria, Ill., Police Department shows Tyler Massengill
This booking photo provided by the Peoria, Ill., Police Department shows Tyler Massengill (Booking Photo Provided by the Peoria police via the AP.)

Tyler W. Massengill, 32, of Chillicothe admitted to setting fire to the Peoria clinic with an explosive on Jan. 15, two days after Illinois approved expansive reproductive health care legislation aimed at protecting abortion patients and providers.

Security cameras caught him approaching the building with a bottle, lighting a rag on one end of it, smashing a window and putting the incendiary device inside before quickly fleeing on foot. No one was present at the clinic, and no one was injured.

Massengill, who pleaded guilty Thursday, is in jail awaiting sentencing scheduled for July 6 at the federal courthouse in Peoria. He faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

Find out what's happening in Niles-Morton Grovefor free with the latest updates from Patch.

When Massengill was arrested on Jan. 24, he told investigators that he set fire to the building because he was reminded of an abortion his ex-girlfriend had three years ago, according to the criminal complaint.


Find out what's happening in Niles-Morton Grovefor free with the latest updates from Patch.

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