Around 5:30 AM on Sunday, a fire was started in the home of Chris Staples sccording to Staple's mother whom lives in the main house on the property. Staples whom is gay and disabled was in the home asleep when it was started, but woke up and got out in time. The fire was started following the receipt of hate mail via a rock through Staples' window and so the incident is being reported as a hate crime.
The note he received, as told to Channel 2 news:
"It said, 'we know you're gay. And God hates gays. You won't be raping anybody in the county and God's going to make sure that you burn in hell.' And something about my daddy... my daddy will make sure you burn in hell,"
Capt. Shane Taylor of the Carroll County Sherriff's office told reporters, ""This is the first time I've dealt with anything of this nature in 16 years." They are still investigating the crime.
However, unfortunately, it doesn't seem as if everyone believes that the fire and note are related if one commenter's post on the coverage by WSB Radio whom posted, "Sorry but I don't buy this story at all" has any volume to other silent voices. Luckily, it's not him who will be investigating such a heinous crime.
Channel 2 has images posted of the damage to the home.
