Bride-to-be with cold feet sets fire to church on wedding eve

The night before her wedding, a woman set fire to the church that she was due to be married in, using stolen lighters and sanitary products as fuel.

Lenita Moreno, a 25-year-old woman from Utah, was set to marry her partner at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Kaysville. She was at the church along with her groom and her family members as they made preparations for the ceremony the next day.

However, Moreno herself was later arrested on a count of aggravated arson in connection with a blaze that started at the church while she and her loved ones were there.

The fire was started using a tampon

According to court documents obtained by KUTV, the family were ready to leave the church when the fire alarm sounded and two bystanders were forced to use water from wedding decorations and fire extinguishers to kill the blaze.

Authorities found that the fire was started under a chair using a tampon and other “items that were out of the ordinary” and resulted in $108,000 worth of damages.

The groom told the police that he and his bride-to-be were at an Ace Hardware store earlier that day. Subsequent video footage provided to the authorities by the store reportedly revealed Moreno stealing two cigarette lighters.

“It is believed that Lenita (Tessa) started a fire within a church building while five others were still inside,” a probable cause affidavit stated. “Lenita did not obtain a marriage license for her own wedding that was to occur the following day after the fire but had lied stating she had.”

Moreno, who was set to be married under the name of Tessa Moran, was also arrested on counts of retail theft and providing false information to an officer. She and is now being held without bail.

For more on weddings, check out our coverage of the couple who held a wrestling match as part of their ceremony, or the viral Pokemon-themed wedding.