Mississippi synagogue arson suspect's dad turns him in after laughing confession, FBI says

A fishy accused of mounting occurrence to a Mississippi synagogue erstwhile bombed by the Ku Klux Klan admitted helium targeted the gathering due to the fact that it is simply a Jewish location of worship and was turned into constabulary aft a laughing confession to his father, the FBI said Monday.

Stephen Pittman, 19, was charged successful national tribunal with maliciously damaging oregon destroying a gathering by occurrence oregon explosive successful transportation with the play arson astatine Beth Israel Congregation successful Jackson.

According to an FBI affidavit, Pittman admitted to lighting the occurrence wrong the synagogue, referring to it arsenic "the synagogue of Satan." Authorities said Pittman’s begetter contacted the FBI aft helium observed burns connected Pittman’s ankles, hands and face, and proceeding his lad confess to mounting the gathering connected fire.

"Pittman laughed arsenic helium told his begetter what helium did and said helium yet got them," the FBI said successful the document, according to WLBT-TV.

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This photograph provided by Beth Israel Congregation shows harm sustained during a fire, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, astatine Beth Israel Congregation, successful Jackson, Miss. (Beth Israel Congregation via AP)

Pittman made his archetypal quality Monday successful U.S. District Court via video from a infirmary bed, wherever some of his hands were visibly bandaged. A nationalist defender was appointed to correspond him.

Prosecutors said Pittman faces 5 to 20 years successful situation if convicted. When the justice advised him of his rights, Pittman responded, "Jesus Christ is Lord."

Services astatine the synagogue were suspended indefinitely pursuing the fire. (Beth Israel)

Pittman told the justice helium is simply a precocious schoolhouse postgraduate who completed 3 semesters of college. He is scheduled to instrumentality to tribunal connected Jan. 20 for a preliminary and detention hearing.

The occurrence broke retired soon aft 3 a.m. Saturday. No congregants oregon firefighters were injured, but the blaze caused extended harm to the synagogue’s room and administrative offices.

Beth Israel Congregation successful Jackson is the state’s largest synagogue. No congregants were injured, officials said.  (Beth Israel)

Security footage released by the congregation shows a masked, hooded idiosyncratic pouring liquid from a state tin onto the level and a sofa wrong the building’s lobby. Investigators said Pittman stopped astatine a state presumption beforehand to bargain gasoline and removed his vehicle’s licence plate. He allegedly utilized an ax to interruption a window, poured substance wrong the synagogue and ignited it with a torch lighter.

The affidavit said Pittman texted his begetter a photograph of the synagogue earlier the fire, writing, "There’s a furnace successful the back." When his begetter urged him to travel home, Pittman allegedly replied that helium was "due for a homerun" and said, "I did my research."

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Investigators aboriginal recovered a burned cellphone believed to beryllium to Pittman, and seized a manus torch recovered by a congregant.

Boards screen the charred remains of the Beth Israel Congregation library, which was acceptable connected occurrence aboriginal Saturday morning, connected Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, successful Jackson, Mississippi. (AP Photo / Sophie Bates)

Five Torah scrolls wrong the sanctuary were being evaluated for fume damage. Two Torahs stored successful the synagogue’s room were destroyed. Another Torah that survived the Holocaust was protected down solid and was not damaged, the congregation said.

The 165-year-old synagogue is the largest 1 successful the authorities and was antecedently bombed by the Ku Klux Klan successful the 1960s.

"This quality puts a look and sanction to this tragedy, but does not alteration our resoluteness to proudly — adjacent defiantly — proceed Jewish beingness successful Jackson successful the look of hatred," Beth Israel Congregation said successful a statement.

Attorney General Pam Bondi said successful a connection done the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi that she has directed prosecutors to question "severe penalties."

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"This disgusting enactment of anti-Semitic unit has nary spot successful our country, and dissimilar the anterior administration, this Department of Justice volition not fto anti-Semitism fester and flourish," Bondi said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.