Two Arrested Following Burglary & Arson Spree

Bossier Sheriff Larry Deen says a Plain Dealing man and his girlfriend have been arrested following a burglary and arson spree. Tony Derren Gay, 40, of the 17000 block of Highway 157, and Marsha Anna Woods, 25, also of the 17000 block of Highway 157, were taken into custody late Sunday night and charged with simple arson, arson of a religious building, seven counts of burglary of a religious building and simple burglary. The two were arrested following the burglary and burning of a church, the burglaries of six more churches and the burglary and burning of a house. The first burglary wasn`t reported until February 9th, but Bossier Sheriff`s investigators say the spree began on February 5th and ended late Saturday night, February 10th. "Burglary and arson are always unacceptable, but the targeting of churches is especially heinous," said Deen. "I am proud to say we have caught those who are responsible, and with the help of Bossier-Webster District Attorney Schuyler Marvin, they will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law." The two entered the churches and the house with tools found at the scene--in most cases smashing windows to make entry. They took sound equipment, including audio mixers, microphones, amplifiers and speakers. They also stole televisions, a microwave and gas and electric heaters. Bossier Sheriff`s investigators say Gay and Woods pawned some of the items and discarded other items in woods and bayous across northern Bossier Parish. The churches targeted were: 1.Hopewell Baptist Church, 1270 Bodcau, Ivan. Burglarized. 2.Longview Baptist Church, 2790 Bodcau Dam Road, Benton. This church was burglarized, set on fire and subsequently burned to the ground. 3.Mount Zion Baptist Church, 973 Mockingbird, Plain Dealing. Burglarized. 4.Aimwell Baptist Church, 16400 Highway 157, Ivan. Burglarized. 5.New Light United Methodist Church, 1047 Seven Pines, Benton. Burglarized. 6.Galilee Baptist Church, 231 Martin Road, Plain Dealing. Burglarized. 7.Egypt Hill Missionary Baptist Church, 2617 Old Plain Dealing Road, Plain Dealing. Burglarized. 8.House, 17516 Highway 157, Ivan. The residence belonged to Gay`s uncle. It was burglarized, set on fire and subsequently burned to the ground. Bossier Sheriff`s detectives say Gay and Woods committed the burglaries because Gay needed money to pay his parole fines and they burned the Longview Baptist Church to hide Woods` fingerprints. The pair torched Gay`s uncle`s house because of a family dispute. Over the years, Gay has had numerous brushes with the law. His criminal history includes charges of burglary, aggravated arson, felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile, aggravated battery with a dangerous weapon and simple robbery. Gay and Woods have been booked into the Bossier Maximum Security Facility with bond pending.