2 arrested in connection with church arson in Southern Illinois

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Ill., (KBSI) — Two men have been arrested and charged in connection with an arson incident that caused an estimated $300,000 in damage to a church in the Lake of Egypt area.

Ethan G. Lam, and Chad E. Krueger, were indicted by a Williamson County grand jury on charges of place of worship arson and criminal damage to property, both class 1 felonies.

The incident occurred on July 24, 2025, at McKinney Chapel Freewill Baptist Church. Deputies responded to the scene and found multiple broken windows, fire damage and other destruction inside the building.

Lam and Krueger were arrested on July 30 and August 14, respectively, and are being held in the Williamson County Jail.