The following cases are killings of church leaders or of their staff. Many deaths appear to be revenge for adultery or sexual abuse. Other incidents may result from parasitic crime, meaning that victims were preyed upon by offenders they were already involved with. Thus, many murder victims were themselves involved in illegal behavior, and MOST deaths were unrelated to their religious affiliation.
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2024
- James Dawkins (ordained) stabbed another pastor in the neck. Westview Baptist Church, Miami-Dade, FL. Police: Man stabs South Florida pastor to death, faces murder charge.
2023
- Rashid Ali Bynum (pastor) is allegedly linked to the murder of a New Jersey councilwoman. She was shot while sitting in her SUV outside her town home. The victim had been married in Nigeria before coming to the US. It is believed her death involved a financial dispute. The offender’s church was experiencing financial difficulties. Champions Royal Assembly, Nigeria. Church associate arrested in death of pastor, councilwoman gunned down outside her New Jersey home.
2022
- Leticia McCormack (ordained elder) was charged with abusing and killing her adopted 11-year-old daughter. The child had bruises and “severe levels of malnourishment.” San Diego Rock Church (mega church), San Deigo, CA. 1) San Diego Rock Church pastor breaks silence on former church elder charged with child-abuse death. 2) Megachurch leader arrested alongside her parents for allegedly torturing and murdering daughter.
- Matthew Dedmon (pastor) was arrested for allegedly shooting his sexual rival. Heritage Baptist Church, Rogersville, AZ. “Pastor shoots, kills man he says his wife was having an affair, police say.” WALB News 10.
2021
- John Ward Gill (former pastor) is accused of shooting and killing his brother and reportedly had been struggling with mental illness. He was charged with second degree murder. Middleburg Open Bible Church, Middleburg, FL. Middleburg man accused of killing brother is former pastor.
2020
- Soloman Whitt (basketball coach) is charged with allegedly strangling and throwing down a flight of stairs the mother of two children he was breaking boundaries with. Salvation Army, King County, Seattle. The victim was concerned about her killer’s “inappropriate contact” with her children. The suspect was alleged to not be the victim’s boyfriend. Whitt allegedly confessed to police. West Seattle man accused of killing his housemate after she told him to move out.
- Andrew Cote (pastor) shotgunned an elder neighbor and his neighbor’s friend who were hot-tubbing. Iglesia Bautista De Fe Y Amor (independent Baptist), Las Vegas, NE. Feud ends in gunfire as pastor kills two in front of his daughter, Las Vegas cops say.
- Elijah Stansell (pastor’s son) used church van to run over and kill his new girlfriend’s ex-boyfriend. Westwood Missionary Baptist Church, Polk City, FL. Grady Judd: Pastor’s son, 3 others charged in death of Polk City librarian.
- Sylvester Ofori (pastor) reportedly shot and killed his estranged wife Barbara Tommey outside a credit union. They were in the process of divorce. He had threatened her life the day prior. Flood Gates of Heaven Ministries, Orlando, FL. ‘Followers call him a prophet:’ Pastor charged with murder in wife’s slaying at credit union.