Peoria Planned Parenthood Arsonist Was Upset Over Ex's Abortion: FBI

PEORIA, IL — The man accused of setting fire to the Peoria Planned Parenthood earlier this month told investigators he carried out the arson because he had been recently reminded of an ex-girlfriend's abortion, according to the FBI.

Tyler Massengill, 32, of Chillicothe, was arrested Monday and charged Tuesday in federal court with one count of malicious use of fire and an explosive in connection with the Jan. 15 fire at the Planned Parenthood Peoria Health Center at 2709 N. Knoxville Ave.

Around 11:30 p.m. that night, police and fire crews were called to a fire at the building, which was empty at the time. One firefighter suffered minor injuries while extinguishing the fire.

Fire investigators determined the fire was likely caused by arson, and detectives obtained surveillance video showing the suspect vehicle — a white pickup truck with a red door.

Security footage from the night of the fire shows a man in a coat with a hood walk up to the building carrying a large bottle, according to FBI agent Ronald Stout.

The figure ignited a rag on one end of the bottle, used something to smash a window and put the bottle inside the building, Stout said in an affidavit in support of the charges.

After Peoria police released images of the suspect pickup truck they got a tip with its license plate, which came back to a 1996 Dodge Dakota registered to Massengill.

"The images of [Massengill] from his booking photo and Facebook account bear a likeness to the individual depicted in the video footage obtained from Planned Parenthood," Stout alleged.

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On Sunday, a Sparland woman notified authorities that Massengill had offered her $300 to paint the doors on his truck, which was being kept in her garage. The woman told investigators that Massengill told her he had seen his truck on the news, but he told her, "I didn't do it, I didn't do it," according to Stout's affidavit.

That same day, the FBI seized Massengill's car, which had been painted white by that time. Red paint residue was found at the scene, the agent alleged.

On Monday, Massengill voluntarily showed up at the Peoria Police Department and waived his constitutional rights against self-incrimination, Stout said.

At first, Massengill denied carrying out the arson and claimed that he had allowed two men to borrow his truck in Peoria on the night of the fire. But his story changed.

Massengill told investigators that his ex-girlfriend had become pregnant three years earlier and informed him of her decision to get an abortion via telephone while he was working in Alaska, according to the affidavit.

Shortly before carrying out the arson, Massengill "heard or saw something that reminded him of the abortion, again upsetting him," he told investigators. He then admitted that he broke out the window of the health center and left a burning container inside.

"[Massengill] also told investigators he thought that, if his actions the night of January 15, 2023 caused 'a little delay' in a person receiving services at the [Planned Parenthood Peoria Health Center], his conduct may have been 'all worth it,'" Stout said.

A conviction for the offense of using fire or an explosive in an attempt to damage or destroy a building involved in interstate commerce carries a minimum federal prison sentence of five years — or seven years when a public safety officer is injured. Prosecutors said Massengill could face a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison if convicted.

The arson took place two days after Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed House Bill 4664, a law aimed at expanding access to abortion in Illinois and protecting patients who come from other states to seek abortions. The Peoria Health Center offers only non-surgical abortions.

“We are pleased an arrest has been made in the firebombing of the Peoria Planned Parenthood Health Center. The damage to the health center is extensive and we are estimating it costing over $1M to rebuild. The repairs will take numerous months before we can reopen stronger than ever," Planned Parenthood Illinois President and CEO Jennifer Welch said Tuesday in a statement.

"This senseless act of vandalism has robbed the community of access to birth control, cancer screenings, STI testing and treatment, and gender-affirming care as well as medication abortion services," Welch said. "We appreciate the outpouring of support from the community, state, and nation as we continue to meet our patients' needs through telehealth and at our other 16 health centers across the state."