Three teens indicted by Callaway County grand jury for breaking into Oakley Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Jan. 2021

FULTON, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Callaway County grand jury has indicted three teens for burglary and other charges related to a Jan. 2021 incident involving the Oakley Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church and two other locations.

Matthew Myers, Bradyn Holzhauser-Crowe and Dylan Smith face multiple charges after they allegedly vandalized and burglarized the church and two locations in Callaway County. Two other juveniles were arrested in connection to the incidents.

Myers is charged with three counts of second-degree burglary, institutional vandalism and two counts of second-degree property damage.

Holzhauser-Crowe is charged with six counts of second-degree burglary, institutional vandalism and two counts of second-degree property damage.

Smith is charged with four counts of second-degree burglary, two counts of accessory to second-degree burglary, institutional vandalism and two counts of second-degree property damage.

The 143-year-old church suffered smashed windows and other damage. The church was a part of life in Tebbetts and was founded by Black residents of Callaway County in 1878.

MFA Oil Company has donated 3 acres of its land near Katy Trail and Highway 94 after hearing about the church's vandalism in January and the community's concerns to protect the historic chapel.

"When we found out that you know that there was this community effort to try and find a new home for the church we thought it sounded like a good fit to donate the land," said Adam Buckallew, the Senior Public and Government Relations Specialist for MFA Oil Company.

The three teens have an initial court appearance on Dec. 20.