Portland Korean Church arsonist found guilty except for insanity
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – The person who previously confessed to setting the Portland Korean Church on fire in January 2023 was found guilty except for insanity in early August, according to court documents.
An affidavit shows Cameron David Storer, 29, told authorities they had broken in and used a cigarette lighter to ignite papers inside the church on 1438 SW 10th Avenue before leaving and watching the fire from a nearby Plaid Pantry.
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Officials said Storer, who also goes by Nicolette Fait, claimed that the voices in their head said they would be harmed if they didn’t burn the church down. Reports later confirmed that Storer suffered from schizoaffective disorder.
Following the confession, Storer was accused of two counts of first-degree arson, one count of second-degree arson, and one count of second-degree burglary. They plead not guilty to the crimes, but were found guilty except for insanity on Aug. 7, 2024.
Storer will spend 20 years in treatment at the Oregon State Hospital under the supervision of the state Psychiatric Security Review Board. They will also be prohibited from buying or using a firearm due to their mental health status.
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The church at Southwest 10th Avenue and Clay Street was 120 years old and had been vacant for years at the time of the fire. No one was injured, but the flames impacted a neighboring home that sat about 10-12 feet away from the church.
Following the blaze, fire officials expressed concern that high winds could topple the church steeple over, which forced crews to accelerate plans to tear it down. Due to its risk to the public, the City of Portland authorized the demolition of the church within a week of the fire.
Fire ravages Portland Korean Church on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023 (Courtesy: PF&R). Fire ravages Portland Korean Church on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023 (Courtesy: PF&R). Portland fire held a press conference on Jan. 12, 2023 to celebrate the firefighters who protected the house next door to the Old Korean Church (KOIN) Fire destroyed the Portland Korean Church on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023 (KOIN). Fire charred the Portland Korean Church on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023 (KOIN). Fire charred the Portland Korean Church on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023 (KOIN). Ravaging fire scorches Portland Korean Church on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023 (Courtesy: PF&R). Large flames seen by first fire crews responding to Portland Korean Church fire on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023 (Courtesy: PF&R). Firefighters battled ravaging fire at the Portland Korean Church on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023 (Courtesy: PF&R). Fire ravaged the Portland Korean Church at SW 11th and Clay in Portland, January 3, 2023 (KOIN) A large fire swept through the Portland Korean Church on Tuesday, December 3, 2022. (KOIN) A large fire swept through the Portland Korean Church on Tuesday, December 3, 2022. (KOIN) A large fire swept through the Portland Korean Church on Tuesday, December 3, 2022. (KOIN)
“[The church] is solid wood with all those stained glass windows, which are now gone,” one neighbor, Rebecca Morgan, told KOIN 6 News the night of the fire. “It’s just a darn shame that something this precious is gone.”
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