Reward For Jehovah's Witnesses Attacker Grows To $61,000

PUYALLUP, WA — The FBI has added $25,000 to a reward fund for information about the recent attacks on Jehovah’s Witnesses assembly and kingdom halls in Pierce and Thurston counties. That brings the total reward pot up to $61,000.

The latest attack happened in Puyallup on Aug. 13. At around 2 a.m., someone set the exterior of a Jehovah's Witnesses Assembly Hall along 78th Avenue East on fire. The building's sprinkler system extinguished the fire, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms spokesman Jason Chudy said.

But six other Jehovah’s Witness buildings in Thurston County were attacked before the Puyallup incident.

The first attacks happened in March 2018, when two buildings in Olympia and Tumwater were set on fire. In May 2018, someone shot at a hall in Yelm. The worst attack happened in July 2018, when an Olympia Kingdom Hall — the same one damaged in the March attack — was burned to the ground. Two more attacks in Lacey and Yelm followed.

The ATF has said that the perpetrator might have a grievance against Jehovah's Witnesses. The arsonist may have recently undergone a dramatic physical change, like removing facial hair. They may also have unexplained injuries, and may have changed their normal routines.

The Arson Alarm Foundation, ATF, and Thurston County Sheriff's Office have all contributed to the reward fund. Tips about the Puyallup or Thurston County arsons can be made by calling the ATF at (888) ATF-TIPS (283-8477), Crime Stoppers (800) 222-TIPS (8477), or the Arson Alarm Foundation at (800) 552-7766.