CASPER, Wyo. — A Casper woman arrested Tuesday has been charged in a federal complaint with the arson last spring of the Wellspring Health Access Clinic, according to a U.S. Justice Department release.
Lorna Roxanne Green, 22, is charged with arson of a facility engaged in interstate commerce. The clinic intended to offer services of OB/GYN care, gender-affirming care, and abortion procedures.
Green made her initial appearance before United States Magistrate Judge Kelly H. Rankin on March 23 at 9 a.m. in Cheyenne.
Around 3:49 a.m. on May 25, 2022, Casper Police Department officers responded to a call for suspicious activity at the clinic, the release said. A man in the apartment next door had been up to use the restroom and heard glass breaking outside, according to the complaint. He saw the suspect with a black trash bag and gas can before the suspect disappeared down the alley.
Officers who arrived observed smoke coming from the east side of the building and dispatched the Casper Fire Department, which responded and extinguished the fire.
Through witness accounts and video surveillance, investigators identified a suspect who had gained entry by breaking a window. In the videos, the suspect pours gasoline on the floors and into aluminium basting pans in various rooms, then leaves as smoke begins to fill the room, slipping once and soaking their clothing.
The complaint indicates the suspect intended to light other rooms on fire, but that the fire spread too quickly, forcing the suspect to leave.
A CPD detective also identified a 2004-2008 Toyota Corolla as a suspect vehicle from the video.
No suspect had been identified as of the beginning of March 2023, the complaint said.
WIth the help of an anonymous donor, the Casper Police Department upped the reward for information to $15,000 on March 3. Four of the 12 leads generated identified Lorna Green as the suspect, according to the federal complaint.
A subsequent review of Green’s Instagram photos revealed that she bore a strong physical resemblance to the suspect. It was also learned that Green drove a beige 2007 Corolla. A picture of Green’s shoe while riding a bike on Instagram also matched the model and brand of the suspect’s shoes from the night of the arson.
The complaint states that Green was living in Laramie at the time of the arson. Based on interviews, investigators believe she purchased the gas cans in Laramie, drove straight to clinic, and then drove back after setting the fire.
On Tuesday, Casper police, ATF, and FBI agents executed a warrant at Green’s residence on the 5100 block of East 16th Street and arrested Green.
Casper Police Chief Keith McPheeters said the FBI and the ATF worked hand in hand with city detectives and provided significant resources throughout the lengthy investigation.
“Every tip received was shared with and evaluated by cooperating law enforcement partners from the Casper Police Department, FBI, and ATF,” said United States Attorney Nicholas Vassallo. “Several tips from the public and the hard work of the investigators were instrumental in identifying and arresting Lorna Green.”
“The progress we’ve made in this complicated investigation is a perfect example of the strong working relationships we have with our Federal Law Enforcement partners,” McPheeters said.
