The suspect accused of setting Mississippi’s oldest Jewish synagogue on fire was identified Monday as 19-year-old Spencer Pittman. Pittman is facing up to 20 years in prison on federal charges and was indicted by a grand jury on Tuesday on state charges, which could bring even more time behind bars.
Authorities with the FBI and local law enforcement agencies announced that Pittman was arrested Saturday evening for setting Beth Israel Congregation on fire early that morning. Beth Israel has existed for over 165 years and is the only synagogue in the capital city.
The fire charred the synagogue’s office and library. Two Torahs – the central and most sacred text in Judaism – inside the library were destroyed. Five Torahs inside the sanctuary are being examined for smoke damage. One Torah that survived the Holocaust was behind glass and made it out without damage. No congregants were injured.
When firefighters responded to the scene, they determined that the blaze had been intentionally set. Pittman, who self-admitted to the University of Mississippi Medical Center with multiple burn wounds, was identified as the suspect and later arrested.
Pittman, who law enforcement said he targeted the property because of its Jewish ties, has been charged at the federal level with arson of property used in interstate commerce or used in an activity affecting interstate commerce. At the state level, Pittman is facing first-degree arson charges with a hate crime enhancement. He is now in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service and is scheduled to appear in court again on Jan. 20.
Here’s what else we know about the man in custody for setting Beth Israel on fire.
Who is Spencer Pittman?
Pittman is a 19-year-old Madison native who graduated from St. Joseph Catholic School before attending Coahoma Community College, where he was a member of the baseball team. He has since been removed from the college’s official roster. Per his social media, Pittman grew up playing baseball and professed the Christian faith.
However, as evidenced by his Instagram account, the suspect’s posts took a sharp turn in late 2025. On Oct. 9, Pittman posted a typical photo of himself playing baseball at Coahoma. His next post, which occurred on Dec. 13, shows Pittman engaging in a vulgar gesture with the caption, “Money is the root of all evil. Hate hates growth.”
From there, the posts grew darker. They included Pittman showcasing himself driving at speeds of up to 160 miles per hour, boasting about an apparent day trading operation, and signaling a far-right political lean, among other peculiar activities.
His most recent post likely led police to a motive in his alleged role in setting Beth Israel on fire. On the day of the fire, he posted a video depicting an antisemitic cartoon caricature of a Jewish figure wearing a Star of David necklace and holding bags of money, standing on another character’s property. The main character of the clip, a female, is seen expressing that her “Jewcrow” – a mock scarecrow holding a jar that reads “Tips Please” – didn’t work. The female character proceeded to knock the Jewish figure into a body of water, exclaiming, “You’re getting baptized right now.”
A source who knows the Pittman family told SuperTalk Mississippi News that the suspect was not raised to hold antisemitic or hateful values. The source asserted that Pittman had undergone some sort of behavioral change during the prior academic semester and that has parents had intended to get him psychiatric help.
“I’ve known [Pittman] since he was born. He was not raised that way. He comes from an affluent background and neighborhood. He went to St. Joe,” the source said. “Something changed this past semester, and he was not returning to school. His parents are in the medical profession and were going to use the time to get him some help.”
How was Pittman located by police?
Per court documents, Pittman purchased the gasoline he allegedly used to start the fire from Mac’s Gas on Highway 51 in Ridgeland and removed his license plate before driving the roughly four miles to Beth Israel in Jackson. The suspect’s father, who law enforcement said received text messages from Pittman about the crime, is who turned him in.
A picture of messages provided in the initial court documents show what appears to be Pittman texting his father in a string of messages that included, “There’s a furnace in the back,” “Btw my plate is off,” “Hoodie is on,” “And they have the best cameras.” A picture of what appears to be Beth Israel was included in the messages. Pittman, whose phone was discovered at the scene, later texted his family from a different phone.
Upon seeing his son after the incident, Pittman’s father spotted burns all over his body, including his hands, face, and feet. The suspect is said to have laughed when telling his father that he started the fire, bragging that “he finally got them.” Pittman’s father later contacted the FBI to inform them his son admitted to the crime.
According to law enforcement, Life360 map data showed Pittman was at Beth Israel at the time of the fire.
What is Beth Israel?
Beth Israel Congregation was established in Jackson in 1860 and is the city’s lone synagogue. The place of worship also hosts the Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life. The center provides Jewish religious school programs and rabbinical services to more than 70 congregations across Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.
No stranger to attacks and threats, Beth Israel was the site of a Ku Klux Klan bombing in 1967 due to its role in the Civil Rights Movement. In December 2023, Beth Israel was one of hundreds of synagogues across the U.S. to be subject to bomb threats, elevating concerns of a growing sentiment of antisemitism across the nation.
What is the suspect’s relation to the synagogue?
Court documents allege that Pittman told his father that Beth Israel is the “synagogue of Satan,” an out-of-context reference to a pair of Biblical passages in Revelation.
The context of the two passages (Revelation 2:9 and 3:9) entailed the Apostle John recounting a message he had heard from Jesus Christ. Jesus’ usage of “synagogue of Satan” was directed to the early churches in Smyrna and Philadelphia, describing a group claiming to be Jews who were persecuting Christians.
The phrase, in recent years, has been popularized by figures on both the far-left and far-right sides of the political spectrum, including influencers Nick Fuentes and Candace Owens, along with minister Louis Farrakhan. On the far-right, the phrase has been used to signal to individuals, particularly younger white males, that an evil group of Jewish people controls the entertainment industry, financial institutions, governments worldwide, and has a nefarious agenda.
When asked by a federal judge on Monday if he understood all of the charges he faces, Pittman responded, “Yes, Jesus Christ is Lord.”
How are officials reacting?
A multitude of officials have spoken out since the synagogue was engulfed in flames. From U.S. senators and statewide officials in Mississippi to leaders of religious organizations and advocacy groups, people in high positions have expressed their support for the Jewish community affected by the hate crime while denouncing acts of antisemitism.
Republican Gov. Tate Reeves said the suspect’s alleged actions will not be tolerated in Mississippi, pushing for justice to be served to its fullest extent.
“Mississippi stands with the members of Beth Israel Congregation,” Reeves said. “This heinous act will never be tolerated, and the perpetrator should face the full and solemn weight of their actions. I have directed the Mississippi Department of Public Safety to support our federal law enforcement partners in any manner necessary as they investigate this horrible situation and pursue state charges.”
Federally, the Justice Department has made it clear that acts of antisemitism will not be taken lightly. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi specifically said she is dedicated to shielding Jewish Americans from hatred.
“This disgusting act of anti-Semitic violence has no place in our country, and unlike the prior administration, this Department of Justice will not let anti-Semitism fester and flourish,” Bondi said. “I have directed my prosecutors to seek severe penalties for this heinous act and remain deeply committed to protecting Jewish Americans from hatred.”
On the law enforcement side of things, FBI Director Kash Patel is looking to ensure that every American, regardless of his or her religious affiliation, can live and worship free of fear.
“Every American has a fundamental right to live and worship free from violence and fear,” Patel said. “The FBI will never waver in our mission to protect Jewish communities from targeted anti-Semitic attacks and will work to hold accountable anyone who engages in these types of violent acts.”