Agents still examining evidence in church fires

University students continue to voice disbelief that a former UT student is one of two men accused of torching an East Texas church. Friends and family of Jason Bourque, 19, are expressing shock at his arrest for one of a series of church fires reported since Jan. 1.

Former UT lecturer Geanina Barna taught Bourque in her fundamentals of speech class in spring 2009. Bourque dropped the speech class about a month into the semester, Barna said. “He appeared very intelligent,” she said. “He showed an inquisitive mind and was much more mature than his age.”

Barna said Bourque had a talent when it came to debate, and his answers always stood out in the classroom. “There were times he dropped Bible verses,” she said. “It is not something you would expect from a man his age.”

Authorities say they have enough evidence to link him to the crimes. Footprints of a Red Wing boot and Skechers shoe found at the Dover Baptist Church matched other prints discovered at previous church fires, according to arrest affidavits obtained by the Patriot Talon.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents found Bourque at his residence in Lindale.

Agents received a tip from a cooperating individual leading to Bourque’s whereabouts. While agents were at his home, Bourque’s grandmother backed out of the garage, exposing a pair of muddy Skechers shoes. The affidavit said agents recognized the pattern on the soles of the shoes was consistent with the pattern found at several church locations and attempted break-ins. The affiant, Texas Ranger Sgt. Brent Davis, spoke to a family member of Daniel George-W McAllister.

The affidavit said McAllister wears a size 13 or 14 boot and the family member recognized the sole of a Red Wing boot as the type McAllister owns. It also said the family member took McAllister to a Greyhound Bus station in Dallas on Feb. 10 where McAllister purchased a one-way ticket to San Antonio.

Also in the affidavit, Davis said surveillance video from the R. Tiger Express Exxon Service Station, located at the intersection of Interstate 20 and State Highway 110, shows Bourque and McAllister on the premises about the time the Dover Baptist Church fire was discovered. According to Google Maps, the walking distance between the church and gas station is about 12 minutes.

The second video cited in the affidavit refers to the Running W Convenience Store, located on 24782 Interstate 20 W, about two miles north of Clear Spring Missionary Baptist Church. Bourque reportedly walked into the gas station about 10:35 p.m., less than an hour after the fire was discovered at the church.

The affidavit includes reports of witnesses seeing a dark blue or purple four-door vehicle, similar to a Dodge Neon, parked near a storage building before a fire ignited the Clear Spring Missionary Baptist Church. The vehicle sped away as a witness tried to flag down the driver.

Federal agents checked Bourque’s vehicle, a blue 2008 Ford Focus, before his arrest. Efforts are under way to compare the suspects’ DNA with evidence collected at the fire scenes.

Both men remain jailed in Smith County. Bonds are set at $10 million each.