Lorna Roxanne Green, a 22-year-old college student, is expected to enter a plea in federal court on Friday for her alleged involvement in an incident at the Wellspring Health Access clinic in Casper, Wyoming. Court documents obtained by The Associated Press reveal that Green admitted to setting fire to the clinic weeks before its grand opening due to her opposition to abortion. However, the story takes a twist as Green’s anxiety and nightmares over the impending clinic opening are mentioned, suggesting a possible mental health component to her actions.
Surprisingly, Green managed to evade arrest for almost ten months following the fire, despite authorities releasing screenshots of video footage and offering a $15,000 reward for information on the suspect. Eventually, Green was caught on camera breaking into the facility with a gasoline can before igniting the fire, leading to her identification and subsequent arrest.
Thankfully, no one was injured in the incident, but the clinic suffered significant damage, including smoke damage and broken windows, amounting to approximately $300,000. The clinic, which provides a range of services including medicated and surgical abortions, birth control options, HIV/AIDS care, and family planning services, opened its doors recently on April 20.
Interestingly, prior to the opening of Wellspring Health Access, Wyoming had not had a clinic offering surgical abortions for at least a decade. The significance of this fact is amplified by the recent enactment of a state law explicitly banning abortion pills, making Wyoming the first state to take such a step. The ban, scheduled to take effect on July 1, without court intervention, has garnered attention and controversy nationwide.
Facing the serious charge of arson, Green could potentially be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 if convicted. Her defense attorney, Ryan Semerad, expressed enthusiasm about representing her in court, leaving the door open for a legal battle that may shed more light on her motivations and mental state during the incident.
