
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, June 28, 1990                   TAG: 9006280253
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B7   EDITION: STATE 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

SUSPECT IN FIRES RULED SANE

A man accused of burning churches in Augusta and Rockbridge counties in May has been ruled mentally competent to stand trial on arson charges.

Rockbridge County Sheriff F.M. Spence said John Randall Todd was determined to be sane following an court-ordered mental examination in Petersburg.

A preliminary hearing for Todd is scheduled for Aug. 15 in Rockbridge General District Court.

Todd, a 24-year-old apostle of an Egyptian religion, was committed to Central State Hospital in Petersburg for a 90-day mental evaluation after he tried to hang himself with shoelaces in Rockbridge County Jail shortly after his arrest. He was unhurt because the shoelaces pulled loose from an air vent because of his weight.

Todd told authorities he set fire to Vesuvius Baptist Church and Mount Carmel Presbyterian Church in Steeles Tavern as a sacrifice to the ancient Egyptian god Osiris.

Todd was arrested after Botetourt County authorities caught him inside Camp Bethel Church of the Brethren on Virginia 640.

He also is wanted by authorities in Dallas in connection with a fire that caused about $10,000 damage to the funeral home where he had worked for three months.

Todd, a native of Tyler, Texas, is also under investigation by the Secret Service for threats made against President and Mrs. Bush.

Todd is currently being held in Rockbridge County Jail.

by CNB