Basement arson after break-in at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church

On September 5, 2026, around 7 a.m., firefighters responded to St. Stephen's Episcopal Church at 30 West Woodruff Avenue near the Ohio State University campus. Crews found a chair with fire damage extending into the basement carpet and wall; the fire was out before they arrived. Investigators said Lawrence Rose, 47, broke in (surveillance showed entry on the west staircase; he admitted breaking a window with his elbow), used a torch-style lighter to set his book bag on fire, and threw it onto a chair before leaving. He was treated for self-inflicted wounds, then charged with felony aggravated arson.

Coordinates are the Nominatim pin for Saint Stephen's Episcopal Church on West Woodruff Avenue.