FBI ups reward for arrest in Life Choice arson

On the day the FBI offered a $17,500 reward for those responsible for the June 25 early morning torching of the Life Choices pregnancy center, police asked for more help in catching the suspects.

“Somebody out there knows what happened,” Longmont Police Chief Jeff Satur told reporters Wednesday. “Somebody had to have seen something, heard something.”

Satur said the FBI has done a lot of heavy lifting in the case, providing vital technical support. Investigators have also reviewed video of the area surrounding the arson, interviewed neighbors and potential witnesses. Police have interviewed anyone who bought the same kind of paint used to write graffiti on the walls of the Life Choice building at 20 Mountain View Avenue.

So far, the work has yielded no suspects, Satur said.

“Unfortunately, these leads are not materializing,” Satur said. “We need people to connect us to the person responsible for this arson.”

With the FBI on Wednesday offering $17,500, the reward for identifying those responsible could now be available for an amount up to $20,000, according to Longmont Police.

The fire was set a day after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, which allowed abortions in the United States. Satur said investigators are aware of the political implications of the arson, which heavily damaged the Life Choices building.

“Unfortunately, that is unfair to the Life Choice people,” Satur said. “They do nothing but good for this community.”

Life Choices provides free pregnancy tests, clothes, baby supplies and other support services to women and men related to unplanned pregnancy and sexual health.  Life Choices does not perform or refer for medical or chemical abortions, according to a Longmont Police news release. 

In addition to sustaining fire and heavy smoke damage, the center was vandalized with spray-painted messages stating, "if abortions aren't safe neither are you" and "BANS OFF OUR BODIES." 

Since the graffiti appeared in different handwriting, Satur said investigators had reason to believe more than one person may have carried out the arson. 

"One signature is in cursive, and one is not," Satur said. "There is a possibility that two individuals are involved; it could be the same person writing with different handwriting."

The department continues to commit resources and work in partnership with the FBI to identify the person(s) responsible for this crime. 

If you are a resident and have a video you did not submit, which would lead to those responsible, please contact Longmont Police at (303)651-8555. 

If you have any information concerning this case, please contact the FBI's Toll-Free tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), your local FBI office, the nearest American Embassy or Consulate, or you can submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.

Northern Colorado Crime Stoppers, in conjunction with Longmont Police Services, is offering an additional reward of up to $2,500 for information leading to the suspect(s) arrest and filing of criminal charges in the Life Choices arson for a new total of up to $20,000. 

Northern Colorado Crime Stoppers can be reached at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Tips can be submitted through the Crime Stoppers website at www.crimeshurt.com.  Please reference Longmont Police Department case number #2022-5219 when calling.