That’s Insane! Joliet Man Not Guilty Of Alleged Plot To Blow Up Catholic Charities Apartment

JOLIET, IL — A Joliet man jailed for allegedly plotting to blow up the east side apartment house where he had been living was found not guilty by reason of insanity.

Denzil Lawrence, 39, was acquitted outright of possession of explosives or incendiary devices. He was found not guilty by reason of insanity on counts of arson and criminal damage to property.

Lawrence was jailed in September 2015, about four months after a fire at the Catholic Charities-owned apartment on Siegmund Street where he had been living. The Will County Sheriff’s Department obtained a warrant for Lawrence’s arrest the same day firefighters doused the blaze.

After the fire was extinguished, an arson investigator reportedly found a two-liter bottle of gasoline on the couch in Lawrence’s apartment.

Lawrence was living in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, when he was arrested, according to Will County jail records.

A criminal complaint filed in Will County court said Lawrence “knowingly possessed (a) detonating device for use with an explosive compound or incendiary device, with the intent to … commit arson.”

The Cook County Bomb Squad was called in to search Lawrence’s home after the fire but found nothing, police said.

A military veteran, Lawrence was said to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, according to police.

On Tuesday, Lawrence was ordered to be transported to the state Department of Human Services for an evaluation. He remained in custody at the Will County jail on Wednesday.

Denzil Lawrence | image via Will County Sheriff's Department

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