Video, Shoeprints Led to Church Arson Suspects

TYLER, Texas (AP) _ Investigators say they used convenience store video and shoe prints to link two men to two east Texas church fires.

The points were contained in affidavits presented in state district court in Tyler on Monday for the arraignments of 19-year-old Jason Robert Bourque and 21-year-old Daniel George McAllister.

They were arrested and charged Sunday with a single felony arson in the torching of a church in rural Smith County. The affidavits, however, say they’ve been linked to a pair of rural church fires near Tyler on the night of Feb. 8 at the Dover Baptist Church and Clear Spring Missionary Baptist Church.

Bourque and McAllister could face life in prison if convicted. Bond is set at $10 million apiece.

The churches, about 90 miles east of Dallas, are among 10 in east Texas burned this year.

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