Feds Charging Maine Man In Burning Of Black Church In MA

SPRINGFIELD, MA — Federal officials are charging a Maine man following a series of vandalism incidents at a Black church in Springfield that culminated in a devastating fire on Dec. 28 that destroyed the chapel.

Dushko Vulchev, of Houlton, Maine, is being charged with damage to religious property and use of fire to commit a federal felony, according to court documents. Vulchev posted videos on Facebook of several vandalism incidents, and has a history of using racial epithets toward Black people, courts documents say.

A spree of vandalism incidents at the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Presbyterian Church began on Dec. 13, when a small fire was set at the building and tires were slashed on a vehicle parked nearby.

The tire-slashings and fires continued, with three separate fires set near the church throughout the day on Dec. 15, according to court documents. A surveillance camera owned by the city of Springfield captured Vulchev, who is originally from Bulgaria, walking toward the church.

Vulchev was originally arrested by Springfield police on Dec. 31. FBI agents then began investigating his involvement in the fires. As part of the investigation, agents interviewed Vulchev's ex-girlfriend, who said he had previously used racial epithets to describe Black people. Vulchev also traded messages with the woman during the arson spree that contained racist language.

"You belong to me, I am handsome and with perfect body. I am extremely intelligent. I need a gun to kill N-----S," one message read, according to court records

Other people who knew Vulchev, including his ex-wife, told FBI agents about hearing him use racist language about people of color and Muslims. On Vulchev's phone, agents found an image of Adolf Hitler dressed in a tracksuit, and a photo of a "White Lives Matter" mural, according to court records.

Vulchev in January pleaded not guilty to local charges connected to the Dec. 28 arson.

MLK's the Rev. Terrlyn Curry Avery has said the church will need to be completely rebuilt after the fire.