Casper Woman Indicted For Abortion Clinic Arson One Year Later

By Ellen Fike

Special to the Wyoming Truth

A Casper woman has been indicted for allegedly setting fire to an abortion clinic in the same city, almost one year to the day after the crime was committed.

Lorna Roxanne Green was indicted by a grand jury, which found that she “maliciously damaged and destroyed, and attempted to damage and destroy, by means of fire a building…which building, contents and property were used in affecting interstate commerce and were used in activities affecting interstate commerce,” according to the May 19 indictment.

Green is charged with arson of a facility engaged in interstate commerce, Wellspring Health Access Clinic in Casper, and faces anywhere from five to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted. The FBI investigates violent crimes committed against reproductive health care providers and facilities in accordance with the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act of 1994.

The act made it a federal crime to injure, intimidate or interfere with those seeking to obtain or provide reproductive health care services, including through assault, murder, burglary, physical blockade or making threatening phone calls and mailings.

It also prohibits damaging or destroying any facilities where reproductive health services are provided.

Green allegedly set fire to the clinic on May 25, 2022, delaying the opening of Wellspring by nearly a year. The clinic, which opened earlier this month, provides surgical and medical abortions, OB/GYN services and gender-affirming care.

Green was arrested in late March after Casper police received several tips linking her to the crime. Investigators investigated Green for several reasons, a probable cause affidavit stated, as she owns the same 2007 Corolla that the arson suspect was seen driving; her body type is similar to that of the suspect; and she also owns a pair of shoes like the ones the suspect was seen wearing in surveillance video captured the night of the fire.

When police interviewed Green in March, she confirmed she had been at the scene of the crime, the affidavit said.

“Green stated that she did not like abortion and was having nightmares which she attributed to her anxiety about the abortion clinic, so she decided to burn the building,” the affidavit read.

At the time of the arson, Green lived in Laramie. The day before the fire, according to the affidavit, Green purchased gas cans and aluminum pans at Wal-Mart, and after filling them with gasoline, she drove immediately to the Casper clinic.

Police said Green detailed breaking into the clinic, spreading the gas around the building and then fleeing once the flames began to spread “too fast.” She drove back to Laramie, arriving home around dawn.

Green told police that she later showered to remove the smell of gasoline from her body and washed the clothing she wore to the clinic multiple times. Investigators later found clothing in her room that matched the description of what the suspect was seen wearing on the surveillance video.

Green is scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court for an arraignment on June 2.