Keokuk, IA – Travis Thrush, 20, of 527 High Street is now facing 1 count of Arson-1st Degree, Class B Felony and 6 counts of Arson-2nd Degree, Class C Felony.
Thrush was arrested January 30, 2009 and charged with setting fire to a garage at 523 High Street the day before. In February, he was charged with setting a stack of straw bales on fire at County Market.
That fire took place on January 8, 2009. It was considered Arson-1st Degree because the fire took place at an occupied structure.
Thrush is now accused of starting five other fires
-First Baptist Church - May 18, 2008
-Bethany Baptist Church - September 19, 2008
-Bethany Baptist Church-December 13, 2008
-Meyers Septic - January 6, 2009
-528 Morgan Street -January 28, 2009.
Thrush faces a total of 85 years in prison if convicted on all counts. He is currently being held in the Lee County Jail on $152,000 cash bond.
Federal charges could be forthcoming since churches were involved.
Another half-dozen arson fires, within the last six months in Keokuk, remain unsolved.
-The former YWCA building - October 16, 2008
- Storage Shed behind Meyers' Courtyard - November 9, 2008
-Alley behind Gate City Seed - November 9, 2008
-1124 Franklin Street - November 24, 2008
-Shed at 5th & Exhange - January 6, 2009
-322 South 21st Street - January 7, 2009.
No injuries have been reported.