Murder by Church Leaders or Their Staff – 1990 – 1999

Murder by Church Leaders or Their Staff – 1990 – 1999

These are just a few of the killing incidents we have identified. Most entries on these pages only contain arrests, charges, or indictments, which may eventually be reduced, dropped, or expunged, and as such, these actors may in fact be innocent in a court of law. These are just a few of the murders, attempted murders, and justifiable homicides we have identified. There are many more to be uploaded, so please check back.

Click on the link to read the report.

1999

• Arthur Burton Schirmer (retired pastor)” pled no contest to third degree murder” of his first wife. Bethany United Methodist Church, Lebanon, PA. Former Lebanon pastor A.B. Schirmer sentenced in first wife’s death.
• Coley McCraney (bishop) arrested in 2019, based on a DNA match using a genealogy website, for a double homicide of two teen girls found dead in the trunk of a car. Spirit and Truth Lifeline Ministries; Heart of Goal church, Ozark, AL. High profile arrest led Alabama police to genealogy testing.
• Eugene Rick Pulley (associate pastor) is serving life-without-parole for the murder of his wife. River of Life Church, Danville, VA. Book reveals details of murder of Danville woman.
• William B. Guthrie (pastor) was charged with the murder of his wife. He was found unconscious in a bathtub and died the next day. He tried to cover the murder by typing a suicide note which was left in a book nearby. First Presbyterian Church, Wolsey, SD. State of South Dakota v. William Boyd Guthrie, [2001 SD 61]. Former Wolsey pastor sentenced to life dies in prison.
• John Williams (organist) strangled to death in a rape murder of a church organist whom he lured to his apartment. Church organist pleads guilty to rape, murder. 

1998

•  Jose G. Figueroa (pastor) charged with first degree murder for shooting his girlfriend. He later confessed. Unidentified church, Buffalo, NY. Buffalo police: Pastor confessed to old homicide.

1997

• Nickolas Hacheney (pastor) arrested and convicted for strangling his wife and then setting their home on fire as a cover for the crime. He was convicted in part due to the testimony of his adulteress girlfriend to whom he admitted the murder. Christ Community Church, Bainbridge Island, WA. Woman pursued by suspect testifies.
• George Crossley (religious broadcaster) arrested and charged with “solicitation to commit murder and arson.” Orlando Sentinel 5/14/97

1996

•  Ben Williams (pastor) arrested for murder. This is a longstanding feud between two nearby churches regarding the successfulness of each that has ended in a murderous shooting. Williams Temple of the Apostolic Faith Church; The Church of the Lord Jesus Christ; Brooklyn, NY.  Anger lingers in church-feud shootings. 
• Mike Flippo (minister) arrested for murdering his wife. He claimed they were being stalked, but he had recently drawn a $100,000 insurance policy on her. Landmark Church of God, Nitro, WV. Minister faces murder charge in wife’s death.
• Samuel L. Smithers (deacon) arrested for killing two female prostitutes. One was apparently beaten with an axe and stabbed. He was convicted and placed on death row. Unidentified church, Plant City, FL. The mysterious Mr. X.
• John Patton (deacon) arrested for shooting his wife. He wrongly suspected she was cheating on him. Great Poplar Springs Baptist Church, Jasper, FL.   99-year old man blows away cheating wife. Weekly World News, Apr 9, 1.

1995

• John Nelson Canning (pastor) arrested and convicted for beating and strangling two elderly parishioners. Pentecostal Tabernacle, Granby, CT. Former pastor charged in double strangling.
• Ricardo Black (deacon) arrested on charges he killed his infant son. Zoe Ministries, Manhattan, New York, NY. Church deacon, 30, is charged in 1995 death of his infant son.
• William Sylvia (deacon and usher) charged with killing his estranged wife by shooting her with a .357 using hollow-point bullets. Fairhaven Congregational Church, Fairhaven, MA. Why? Why did it have to happen?.

1994

• Ronnie Lee Hyde (youth pastor) found guilty for murdering and dismembering a 16-year old boy. Remains were found outside of a dumpster. Strength for Living Church, Jacksonville, FL.  Counselor, former youth pastor accused of killing teen in 1994.
• Hebert Valmond (pastor) arrested by immigration officials because he is suspected of being a war criminal, participating in the torture and massacre of Haitian peasants. Pastor arrested as war criminal. Newslibrary.com.

1993

• Darin Carroll (pastor) is a former manslaughter offender. He shot and killed a mother of five while he was addicted to meth and alcohol. Victory Life Ministries, Pueblo, CO. 1) Pueblo pastor hopes TV show on his past will help others. 2) Ministry to launch faith-based addiction recovery program.

1992

• Brian Warth (pre-pastor) and gang member, murdered a 16-year old. He pled guilty to 2^nd degree murder. Currently at Chapel of Change, Long Beach, CA.  From murder to ministry, reformed Long Beach pastor preaches redemption.
• Freddie Armstrong (pastor) arrested for “killing another minister at a funeral home and cutting off his head.”  Unidentified Baptist church, Bastrop, LA. Minister killed: Pastor arrested in slaying of another in funeral home. Newslibrary.com.

1991

• Samuel Fu-Tzan (former pastor) pled guilty to second degree murder for killing a sexual rival with an ax. Former Pastor Sentenced for Killing Dentist With Ax : Crime: Ex-minister at Torrance church gets 15 years to life. Evangelical Formosan Church, Torrance, CA. He had pleaded guilty to second-degree murder stemming from alleged love triangle.

1990

• Henry Meinholz (deacon) has been charged killing a 13-year old girl who lived nearby and burying her partially nude body in his basement. First Baptist Church, Plymouth, MA. Neighbor pleads innocent in Benoit slaying.
• Joseph Wilfred (pastor) was arrested and charged with shooting and killing a juvenile male regarding a dispute surrounding payment for sex. The victim was identified as Jessie Terrell Sibley (19). When police arrived, the pastor had a second man at gunpoint as well. Unidentified church, New Orleans, LA. Pastor arrested for murder in fight over sex. Abbeville Meridional (Abbeville, LA) 6-Sep-1990, p. 2. Newspapers.com.