By: Richard L. Smith
Residents in the early hours of the morning in Verona were startled by an arson attack on The Lady of the Lake Roman Catholic Church, as announced by Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens, II, and Verona Police Chief Christopher Kiernan.
The incident, which took place at approximately 3:33 am, was swiftly responded to by local authorities after an alarm alerted the Verona Police Department to a situation at the church on Lakeside Avenue.
Upon arrival, officers were met with a heavy smoke condition, prompting an immediate response from the Verona Fire Department.
The fire was quickly extinguished, preventing further damage to the historic church.
An exhaustive investigation by the Prosecutor’s Crime Scene Investigations Bureau and the Verona Police Department concluded that the fire was intentionally set, with multiple points of origin identified within the church premises.
In a surprising turn of events, officials said Mr. Elliot Bennett, 42, of Verona, walked into the Verona Police headquarters at approximately 4:30 am, following the arson.
Bennett has since been charged in relation to the arson attack, facing serious accusations including first-degree Bias Intimidation, second-degree Burglary, second-degree Aggravated Arson, along with multiple weapons-related charges and the Desecration of Venerated Objects.
This unsettling event has shaken the Verona community, highlighting the swift action taken by local law enforcement and fire departments to address and investigate the incident.
The charges laid against Bennett speak to the gravity of the act, as authorities work to provide justice for The Lady of the Lake Roman Catholic Church and its congregation.