Murder/Arson at TN Church, Armed Man Causes Issue at Church

Aug 31, 2024

I’m doing something new this week. I have my video summary of this week’s crime directly below👇. I’m comparing this to how to the livestream does to see what is better for the reader. Let me know what you think.

CRIMES AGAINST PERSONS

Suspect in Tennessee Church Arson Charged with Murder

A man accused of setting a deadly church fire in Athens, Tennessee, has been charged with second-degree murder after authorities discovered that he killed a woman inside the church before igniting the flames. Kyle Jay Hickox, who was arrested on Friday, was captured on surveillance cameras at multiple locations before and after the fire at St. Mark AME Zion Church. Investigators found blood evidence matching the victim, Linda Buchanan, on Hickox's shoe. Although Hickox is not currently facing arson charges, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation indicates that additional charges may be forthcoming.

Watch my video breakdown of this incident above. I have tips about arson proofing your church, situational awareness and more.

Suspect Sought for Robbery Outside Philadelphia Church

Police in Philadelphia are searching for a suspect who allegedly burglarized Holy Cross Church and then robbed a woman at gunpoint as she was leaving the building. The incident occurred just before noon on Friday, and the suspect, seen on dashboard camera footage wearing a hat that says "All Hustle, No Luck," also reportedly broke into several cars near the church. The suspect was last seen fleeing toward Boyer Street. Authorities are asking anyone with information on the suspect's whereabouts to contact the police.

Situational awareness will stop many attacks like this. I’ve written extensively about situational awareness, including an article you can read here. My friend, Chris Heaven over at Survival Dispatch, likes to use the term “Gas station ready.” Meaning, you’re at the gas station and something pops off. Did you have the situational awareness to see it coming and are you ready to defend yourself or others when doing mundane tasks like fueling your car?

South Carolina Church Bans Man Who Brought Gun to Service

A South Carolina church has banned a 60-year-old man who brought a gun to a service in Woodruff and caused a disturbance. The man, who reportedly told attendees he wanted to "let it all out today" while displaying his firearm, was removed by authorities after being found seated in the back pew. Although he legally possessed the weapon, the church labeled him a trespasser, barring him from returning.

It sounds like this man may have been in crisis. If you see someone in crisis displaying a firearm in church, remove them immediately. Do not wait. Ask them politely using your skills you learned in de-escalation. Put this incident into your scenario training roundup to work out how your team is going to handle a similar situation.

To be clear, this isn’t about the 2A. This is about a man displaying a firearm and making statements that puts everyone at risk. On any given Sunday, my church has at least 40% of the congregants armed. This man’s behavior isn’t normal and needs to be checked.

Naked Man Arrested After Breaking into Pennsylvania Day Care

An 18-year-old man was arrested after breaking into Sonrise Christian Day School in Linwood, Pennsylvania, and jumping from a second-floor window while naked. The suspect, identified as Saheir Badel Sadler-Chandler, reportedly attempted to force entry into the day care armed with a pair of scissors before stripping naked and leaping from the window. He was later found bloody in traffic and taken into custody. Sadler-Chandler faces multiple charges, including burglary, criminal trespassing, vandalism, and 51 counts each of simple assault and reckless endangerment. It is unclear if any children were present during the incident.

If there are 51 counts of simple assault, that is for the 51 people in the building. I’d say it’s safe to say children were probably present. A naked man with scissors breaking into your church daycare could be a deadly force incident. There isn’t much room for less lethal force for this depending on the circumstances. Make sure you have a clear backdrop and make sure that you have self defense insurance. You can see my review of self defense insurance, specifically for church security teams, here.

SEX CRIMES

Missouri Woman Arrested for Allegedly Molesting Teen She Met at Church

A 25-year-old woman was arrested in Missouri for allegedly molesting a 13-year-old girl she met while attending the House of Deliverance church in Bridgeton, Missouri. The St. Louis County Police were alerted to the alleged abuse by the victim's mother, who discovered the situation after reading her daughter's diary. The woman faces charges of child molestation and statutory sodomy, with evidence reportedly supported by cellphone messages. The church confirmed the woman was a member but emphasized she never worked or volunteered there, and the alleged crimes occurred outside the church. Authorities have released the suspect's photo to identify any other potential victims.

Many people think women don’t molest children and that is a wrong perception. The devil lives in both genders. Although men far outnumber women when it comes to this, I have seen many women commit this crime in my career. Don’t be fooled by this common misperception. We also need to watch who is talking to children during service. Just watching will make them uncomfortable and move on. Or, if your suspicions are raised enough, go talk to them and make sure that the conversation is appropriate.

Read the full story here

Additional Charge Brought Against Former Pastor in Ongoing Child Molestation Case

A former pastor in Attapulgus, Georgia, has been charged with aggravated child molestation, adding to previous charges related to child pornography, sodomy, enticing a child, and multiple counts of child molestation. The suspect, initially arrested in October 2023, was previously convicted on similar charges in 1989 but released early in 1992. The current charges stem from an investigation that began in 2022, involving two alleged victims who were minors attending his church. The district attorney’s office announced the new charge amid an ongoing investigation, with a trial tentatively scheduled for November 2024.

There is no excuse for this. He was a convicted pedophile who was hired by another church just a few years ago. Not doing a background check is unacceptable. I don’t understand churches that don’t do this. Remember, I tell you repeatedly that pedophiles and predators work or volunteer in churches solely to cultivate new victims. They chose churches because of our loving nature and our tendency to forgive and then bury and hide our dirt. If you don’t do background checks, you’re wrong and should read this article here to learn how you can implement it in your church.

Preacher Wanted by FBI for Sex Crimes Evades Philippine Police in Standoff

A violent standoff between Philippine police and followers of fugitive preacher Apollo Carreon Quiboloy, wanted by the FBI on charges of sexual abuse and human trafficking, has entered its fourth day. Nearly 2,000 officers have surrounded the Kingdom of Jesus Christ church compound in Davao, where Quiboloy, accused of running a sex trafficking ring, is believed to be hiding. The raid, which began on Saturday, has been met with resistance from his followers, resulting in injuries, arrests, and the use of tear gas. Quiboloy, who has denied the charges, has been on the run since a 2021 U.S. indictment accused him of coercing girls and young women into sex under threats of "eternal damnation."

A pastor accused and wanted by the FBI for sex trafficking. I’m not sure why any church would harbor this fugitive. All I can think of when I see churches hiding their dirt is Isaiah 1:17: "Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow."

High Point Church Worker Arrested in Sexual Assault Investigation

A church worker in High Point, North Carolina, has been arrested in connection with a sexual assault investigation involving multiple teenage victims. James Murphey, 44, was taken into custody on Thursday morning and faces 30 counts of sexual battery. The investigation, launched in January 2024, revealed that several assaults occurred in 2023 while Murphey was employed at a local church. The victims were all between the ages of 16 and 19 at the time of the alleged incidents.

ARSON

Man Arrested for Allegedly Setting Fire to Georgia Church; Pastor Calls for Prayer

Authorities in Byron, Georgia, have arrested Luke Westfield, the suspect in an arson case involving Byron United Methodist Church on West Heritage Drive. The fire, determined to be intentional, was discovered Tuesday night by a Byron police officer and prompted a joint investigation with the Georgia State Fire Marshal, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. In response to the arrest, Pastor Josh expressed gratitude to law enforcement and called on the church community to pray for those responsible, emphasizing mercy and grace. Despite the incident, the church will continue to hold services, with the next gathering scheduled for Sunday at 10:00 am.

This is my weekly call out to remind all of you that your church must have an alarm (burlar/fire) and a 4k video system. You should have done it yesterday, but today is not too late. Tomorrow is.

PROPERTY CRIMES

Church Office Manager Sentenced for Embezzling $912K from Tulsa Church

A former office manager of Trinity Baptist Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, has been ordered to pay $912,000 in restitution after pleading guilty to embezzling funds and filing a false federal income tax return. Katrenia Hartman, 55, who served the church for over 16 years, was sentenced to 30 months in prison and five years of supervised release. Hartman forged checks to herself and falsified church records to cover up the theft, which included over $735,000 from the church and more than $177,000 owed to the IRS. She also falsely claimed over $78,000 in medical expenses to reduce her tax liability. Hartman is required to report to federal prison by October 2, 2024.

What to know how this happened? It might be due to not doing regular audits of the books. Almost a million dollars and no one did an audit to catch malfeasance? You should make it difficult to steal from the church by implementing strong policy that includes regular audits. I wrote and article on how to safeguard your church finances that you can read here.

Treasurer Accused of Stealing $225,000 from Pennsylvania Church

A 73-year-old treasurer of St. John Lutheran Church in Carnegie, Pennsylvania, has been charged with stealing nearly $225,000 from the church. William Reed, a lifelong member of the church, allegedly misappropriated funds over a period of several years, using his position to access the church’s finances. The church board discovered the discrepancies in late April and later confronted Reed, who admitted to the theft in emails. Reed has since been removed from his position and turned himself in to authorities, posting a $5,000 unsecured bail. The church remains financially stable and has implemented measures to prevent future issues.

Suspect Arrested After Break-In and Police Pursuit in Mississippi

A man was arrested after allegedly breaking into Mantachie First Baptist Church in Mantachie, Mississippi, and stealing a laptop on Friday morning. An Itawamba County Sheriff's deputy witnessed the incident and attempted to stop the suspect, who fled, leading officers on a pursuit across two counties. The chase ended when the suspect's vehicle crashed into a tree on Auburn Road in Lee County. The suspect sustained serious injuries, was treated at a hospital, and later booked into the Itawamba County jail on charges of grand larceny and burglary of a commercial building.

Read the full story.

INTERNATIONAL STORIES

Russia Arrests Three Over Alleged Plot to Attack Church

Russian authorities have arrested three people suspected of planning a terrorist attack on a church in Sunzha, Ingushetia, a Muslim-majority republic in the Caucasus region. The suspects, identified as Russian nationals and alleged members of the Islamic State (IS) group, are accused of preparing to commit a terrorist act and participating in the activities of a terrorist organization. The arrests come amid Russia's ongoing efforts to thwart attacks by Islamist cells, with investigators claiming the suspects were planning to carry out sabotage and terror activities in the region.

Almost each week, an ISIS cell is stopped from attacking a church somewhere in the world. You know our churches are next on the chopping block…. are you prepared?

Suspect Arrested for Attempted Arson at Synagogue in France

French police have arrested a man suspected of attempted arson at the Beth Yaacov synagogue in La Grande-Motte, a city in southern France. The incident, which occurred on Saturday morning, involved two cars set alight in front of the synagogue, one containing a gas canister. The explosion injured a police officer, who is currently hospitalized but not in critical condition. French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the attack as a "terrorist act," and authorities have called for increased security around Jewish schools and places of worship. The suspect’s motives are under investigation by France’s specialist antiterrorism prosecutor.

Belfast Church Arson Attack Investigated as Race Hate Crime

An arson attack on the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God on Templemore Street, east Belfast, is being treated as a racially motivated hate crime. Two masked individuals used an angle grinder-type tool to cut a hole in the church's shutters before igniting a flammable substance inside, causing damage to the front hall and smoke damage throughout the building. The attack occurred Tuesday evening, and police are appealing for information from the public. Local church leaders have condemned the incident, emphasizing that racism has no place in their community.

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