Murder by Church Leaders or Their Staff – 2000 – 2009

Murder by Church Leaders or Their Staff – 2000 – 2009

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.

2009

Raylene Worthington (faith-healer) “convicted last week of second-degree criminal mistreatment” in the death of a toddler. Followers of Christ Church, OR. Worthington gets jail time in faith-healing death.
Timothy Dane Tillman (former pastor) convicted of murdering his wife. He was granted a new trial and was convicted a second time in 2012. Vincent Revival Center, Vincent, AL. 1) Former Shelby County pastor loses appeal in shooting death of wife. 2) Handsome Devil.
Kirk Caldwell (pastor), charged with murder, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter for shooting his oldest son to death on Christmas Day in Darby, PA. End Times Harvest Mission, Philadelphia, PA. Pennsylvania pastor headed to prison for killing son.
Kevin Pushia (former pastor) arrested and pleaded guilty to contracting the murder of “a mentally disabled man” to collect on insurance. Greater Faith Tabernacle Church of Deliverance, Baltimore, MD. 1) Pastor who conspired to kill for insurance admits targeting others. 2) City pastor charged with having man killed for life insurance.
Craig Raymond Cosby (retired pastor) convicted of murder in the shooting death of his wife. Marcus, WA. Man gets 31 years for wife’s murder.
Jonathan Ayers (youth pastor) was shot by police in an undercover narcotics sting. The pastor was shot when tried to escape police thinking he was in the midst of a robbery attempt. He was shot when his vehicle struck an officer and the officer retaliated. The target of the raid alleged the pastor was paying her for sex. Jury awards more than $2 million to family of pastor killed by narcotics task force.
Jose Feliciano (custodian) was arrested for allegedly stabbing the priest who fired him. The janitor alleges he was being blackmailed by the priest in exchange for sexual favors after the priest discovered an outstanding arrest warrant against the janitor for crimes including child sexual abuse. St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church, Chatham, NJ. Church janitor gets life in prison for fatally stabbing Chatham priest.

2008

Robert Lee Adams Reaves (former pastor) arrested for first degree murder of female college student dumped along the highway. The pastor was alleged to be jealous of her relationship (sexual rival) with a male roommate who had refused his advances. Raleigh, NC. The Glorious Church in Raleigh. NCCU student buried; Murder suspect denied bond.
Russel Lewis (faith-healing pastor) convicted of negligent homicide for failing to have son’s infection treated by medical personnel. Followers of Christ Church, Creswell, OR. Faith healing couple guilty of murder.
Arthur Burton Schirmer (pastor) arrested for killing a wife and staging it as a car crash in the mountains. Lebanon, PA. Bethany United Methodist Church. Philandering ex-pastor accused of killing two wives in PA.
Andrew Neal (deacon) was arrested along with an apparent accomplice for killing a female church member whom he had tried to borrow money from a few days earlier. New Life Tabernacle Church, Wyoming, MI. Wyoming victim’s church gathers to remember Mashonda Griffin, man arrested for her murder.
Errol Victor Sr. (pastor) was charged with killing his step-son who was eight years old. He was convicted in 2014 along with his wife. His case was vacated by the US Supreme Court in 2019 because he was convicted on a non-unanimous verdict. St. John the Baptist Parish, LA. Louisiana pastor facing murder charge running for Congress from jail.

2007

Henry E. Dozier Sr. (deacon) was found not guilty by reason of insanity for killing his wife. The suspect attempted unsuccessfully to die by suicide from ingesting poison. Clinton AME Zion Church, Great Barrington, MA. Murdered Barrington pastor’s husband not guilty by reason of insanity.
Joseph Kerekes (former youth pastor) was convicted of killing a rival porn producer. Bethel Temple, Hampton, VA. 1) The case of the Cobra Killer. 2) Marine Veteran Joseph Kerekes & Navy Veteran Harlow Cuadra murdered Bryan Kocis in Pennsylvania home; Sentenced to life in prison.

2006

Matt Dee Baker (pastor) was arrested for murdering his wife. He was later described by the sheriff as a predator and convicted by a jury. Crossroads Baptist Church, Lorena, TX. The valley of the shadow of death.
Andrew David White (pastor’s son) was arrested for the murder a woman in the basement of the church parsonage. According to police, drugs may have played a role. Shady Grove Wesleyan Church, Colfax, NC. Minister’s son charged in death.

2005

Timothy Lavaun Crumitie (pastor) arrested for killing a man he loaned money to, but charges were later dismissed for lack of evidence. Kannapolis, NC. The pastor and the homicide victim were seen together on video just prior to the killing. 1) Anastasia Meader’s body found. Pastor Timothy Crumitie charged. 2) Charges Dismissed In Charlotte Murder Case.
Eric Brian Golden (youth pastor) confessed to murdering his wife and charged with “felony murder by aggravated battery.” Southside Assembly of God, Savannah, GA. Youth pastor pleads guilty to wife’s murder.
Joshua Rosa (youth pastor) convicted of murdering by strangulation, a 13-year old boy. Zion Pentecostal Church, Tampa Bay, FL. Youth pastor Joshua Rosa found guilty on murder charges.
Timothy Dane Tillman (former pastor) arrested for killing his wife with a shotgun. Revival Center, Vincent, AL. Ex-Vincent pastor arrested in slaying Man charged with murdering his wife with shotgun in ’05. Newslibrary.com.

2004

Howard Douglas Porter (pastor) convicted for killing an elderly man who he was swindling for over $1M. Hickman Community Church, Hickman, CA. Preacher convicted of murder loses support.
Anthony Hopkins (evangelist) convicted of murdering his wife, burying her, exhuming her and storing her in a freezer. Many other charges were made including incest. Inspirational Tabernacle Church of God in Christ, Jackson, AL. Unidentified church affiliation, Mobile, AL. Jury finds preacher guilty of murdering wife, sexually abusing stepdaughter.
Amos Hicks (pastor) pleaded guilty to killing his wife by gunshot. Church of the Living God, Pascagoula, MS. Moss Point pastor held in capital murder case.
Melvin Bynum (pastor) charged with killing his wife by strangulation. The body was placed in a car trunk and the vehicle dumped. Cry Out Loud Ministry, Sanford, NC. Sanford pastor charged with first-degree murder.
Richard Scott Harper (assistant pastor) arrested for allegedly killing his sexual rival with assistance of the victim’s wife. Hollywood Baptist Church, Rome, GA. Police: Triangle turns deadly Victim’s wife, pastor arrested. Newslibrary.com.

2003

Dale Neuman (faith-healing pastor) convicted of second degree reckless homicide after failing to seek medical attention for his 11-year old daughter’s treatable diabetes. Neuman studied to be a minister. Weston, WI. Father, Dale Neumann, who trusted faith healing is found guilty in sick daughter’s death.
Aaron Estes (youth minister) arrested for killing his wife by strangulation, an act to which he has confessed. Foursquare Church, Concord, NC; formerly a minister at North Cove Church of God, West Toledo, OH. Former Toledo minister linked to wife’s murder.
Richard Logsdon (associate pastor) was convicted of killing a 2-year old child. He was on probation “after serving 13 years in prison” when he propositioned 13-year-old for sex in online sting. Unidentified church, Tampa, FL. Police former pastor propositioned 13-year old sex online.

2002

Ryan G. Erickson (priest) judged by coroner’s jury to have murdered two men in funeral home shooting, one of which he was alleged to have sexually assaulted as a youth. Erickson suicided as police closed in on him exercising a search warrant. St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Hurley, WI. Double murder is now 10 years old.
Michael “Mike” Tabb (minister & Navy chaplain) pleaded guilty to murdering his wife by beating her with a bludgeon. Tabb hung out at gentleman’s club during her funeral. Methodist Church, Troup, TX. Minister gets 55 years in prison for wife’s murder.
Neil Edgar Sr. (former pastor) was convicted of killing his 9-year old “who died of asphyxiation after being wrapped head to toe in duct tape.” God’s Creation Outreach Ministry, Kansas City, KS. Kansas man loses appeal for new trial in death of 9-year-old son.

2001

Cases to be added. Please check back.

2000

Cases to be added. Please check back.