A 29-year-old man has pleaded guilty to firebombing a pro-life center in Madison, Wisconsin, after he was linked to the crime through DNA found on a half-eaten burrito. The U.S. Department of Justice confirmed this development, providing closure to the investigation. The attack took place on May 8, 2022, when the suspect, Hridindu Roychowdhury, allegedly threw two Molotov cocktails into the Wisconsin Family Action office. The incident occurred just days after a draft opinion suggested that the U.S. Supreme Court would overturn Roe v. Wade.
Roychowdhury was initially identified as a possible suspect when law enforcement officers collected a discarded burrito from a public trash can near the crime scene. A forensic biologist later confirmed that the DNA samples from the burrito and the crime scene matched, solidifying Roychowdhury’s connection to the attack.
Following the incident, Roychowdhury attempted to flee the country and was arrested at Boston Logan International Airport on March 28. He had purchased a one-way ticket to Guatemala City, Guatemala. On Friday, he pleaded guilty to attempting to cause damage by means of fire or an explosive. He now faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, with a maximum of 20 years.
Fortunately, no one was present in the office during the attack, and there were no reported injuries. The arrest and subsequent guilty plea bring some relief to the pro-life community in Wisconsin.
It is worth noting that attacks on pro-life individuals and organizations have been on the rise, with data showing that there have been 22 times more attacks on pro-lifers than pro-choice groups since the leak of the Supreme Court’s draft opinion.
The investigation and subsequent resolution of this case highlight the importance of addressing violence and promoting peaceful dialogue in matters related to abortion. The incident serves as a reminder of the deep divisions surrounding this contentious issue in American society.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
