2 men arrested for arson, property damage at southern Ill. church

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Ill. (KFVS) - Two men were arrested in connection with a “significant arson” and property damage investigation at a southern Illinois church.

Ethan G. Lam and Chad E. Krueger, both 26, were arrested and taken to the Williamson County Jail for felony arson and felony criminal damage to property.

On August 14, a Williamson County grand jury indicted them for felony place of worship arson and felony criminal damage to property.

Lam’s arraignment was set for September 3, and Krueger’s arraignment will be on October 1.

According to the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office, they responded to the McKinney Chapel Freewill Baptist Church in the Lake of Egypt area on July 24 and found multiple broken windows, fire damage and other damage inside the building.

Deputies say the damage was estimated to be more than $300,000.

They identified two suspects. Ethan Lam was arrested on July 30 and Chad Krueger was arrested on August 14.

The sheriff’s office thanked the Lake of Egypt Fire Department, Illinois State Police Crime Scene Unit, the Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Office and State’s Attorney Ted Hampson for their help with the investigation.