Beth El Bible Church says woman left message about Charlie Kirk, set fire outside church
Update (September 24, 2025): Court documents newly obtained by ABC-7 state that investigators found a business card allegedly connecting Marquez with the arson. Investigators say the business card was located alongside the paper plate inside a bag gifted to the church. The court documents state that the plate displayed a "threatening" message.
Court documents state that that investigators were able to track down Marquez, who resides in El Paso, thanks to the business card and a witness' testimony.
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Marynka Marquez, 35, is charged with Arson Intended to Damage a Place of Worship after El Paso Police say that she set a bag on fire outside of Beth El Bible Church.
Marquez, a Denton, Texas resident, was booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility on a $50,000 bond on September 18, 2025.
The alleged arson happened on September 17, 2025 at Beth El Bible Church, located on Montana Avenue.
"When police arrived, the investigation revealed that a woman had gone to the church, placed a large bag against the outside wall of the church, set it on fire, and then fled the scene," police officials say. "Fortunately, the pastor was leaving the church when he spotted the fire and quickly put it out."
Police say the bag contained a paper plate with hateful language written in marker. James Reidland, Beth El Bible Church's building manager, sent photos of the plate to ABC-7. Reidland told ABC-7 that the message referred to Charlie Kirk, the conservative activist who was killed during an event at a college in Utah earlier this month. Beth El Bible Church held a vigil for Kirk on September 18. The church advertised the vigil on social media several days in advance.
The fire marshal and the El Paso Police Department Special Investigation Unit investigated the arson.
ABC-7 spoke with Pastor Eric Paul, the man who put out the fire, when the incident happened on September 17th.
"Whoever did this is trying to say we don't want you expressing an opposing viewpoint," said Paul. "And I think that is so tragic because our country was built on the freedom of speech and the sharing of ideas."
After the arrest of Marquez, ABC-7 reached out to Paul for further comment. He sent us this statement:
"Beth El Bible Church is disheartened that we face these circumstances. We believe in letting the local authorities do what they are called to do. As a church, we choose to forgive."
