After Jackie Shroyer, the wife of late missionary Beau Shroyer, was charged with murder in her husband’s death, friends of the family were shocked by the allegations. According to reports, Jackie is accused of plotting with three men in Angola, the country they were doing missionary work in, to kill her husband.
Authorities reportedly discovered Shroyer’s body fatally stabbed outside of the municipality of Humpata in the Huila province. Manuel Halaiwa, a spokesperson for the country’s Criminal Investigation Service, claimed that Jackie participated in a murder-for-hire plot against her husband. Halaiwa suggested that Jackie was in a romantic relationship with one of the men, who was working as a security guard for the family.
“There are strong suspicions here of a possibly romantic relationship in relation to the person who ordered the case and her accomplice, the citizen who was initially a guard through a private security company, but who, after ending his contract with this company, was welcomed because he seemed to be a good person very close to the couple and was hired with another salary to serve the couple,” Halaiwa said.
Friends of the couple expressed shock after the allegations were brought to light. “I just don’t have any words,” said Carl Gessell, who is a friend of the couple from Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, speaking to the New York Post. “I’m shocked that this even happened. I can’t believe she would do something like that.”
Gessel, who attended the Lakes Area Vineyard Church with the Shroyers continued, “I can’t see his wife doing that. It’s got to be something else. But, you know, I don’t know if something happened between there and here.” The family friend further explained that Beau felt he had been called by God to serve in Angola. “Beau told me that God led him in a different path,” he said.
Another family friend, Cleone Steward, said, “Jackie had visions of helping poor children and Beau was right beside her.” Stewart added, “He was really good as a field trip leader, really good at describing things.”
The Christian Tribune previously reported on the reaction to the Beau Shroyer’s murder from leadership at Lakes Area Vineyard Church. Lead pastor Troy Eastman told his congregation, “I love you very much and I am heartbroken and in shock that I need to send this type of update to you today. Wherever you are and whatever you’re doing, I’m going to ask you to sit down, take a deep breath and remember that God is our ever present help in times of trouble.”
Acknowledging Jackie’s arrest, he said, “As you all know, our community has been deeply saddened by the death of our dear brother and friend Beau Shroyer, who was killed in a violent, criminal attack in Angola, Africa on Friday, October 25. Today, our grief and sadness has deepened immeasurably as we’ve learned that his wife, Jackie Shroyer, has been arrested in connection with his death.”
Watch a video of the Shroyer’s testimony below:
Note: The featured image is a screenshot from the embedded video.