A pastor, who allegedly attempted to kill his wife in 2013, has planted a new church in Union City, Tennessee.
Eddie Mallonee, former pastor at Second Baptist Church in Union City, and his alleged mistress, Shelley Moran, pleaded guilty to felony reckless endangerment in 2013 and were placed on supervised probation, according to WBBJ Eyewitness News. The plea agreement came after Mallonee and Moran were accused of plotting to murder Mallonee’s wife, Cathy Mallonee, while on a mission trip to Honduras, WBBJ reported.
Now, Eddie Mallonee has planted a new church in the same town as Second Baptist. He started Community Bible Church in a member’s home in 2020, according to the church’s website. The church reportedly has a current membership of more than 260 people.
The Roys Report (TRR) reached to the Community Bible Church for comment on the allegations against Eddie Mallonee, but no one responded.
TRR also connected with former members of Mallonee’s previous church, Second Baptist, but no source was willing to go on record.
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An indictment by an Obion County grand jury in 2013 claimed Mallonee and Moran transported poison to Honduras and then tried to give the poison to Cathy Mallonee in a drink, Action News 5 reported. The poison reportedly was Carbofuran, known by the trade name Furadan.
“The chemical is highly toxic to animals and humans,” Tom Womack, an employee at the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, told Action News 5. “It would only take a very small amount for it to be fatal to a person.”
Prosecutors reportedly did not say how Eddie Mallonee and Moran got the poison or were able to transport it to Honduras.
At the time of the plea bargain, Union City Police Chief Perry Barfield told WBBJ, “I wish it would have gone to trial and all the facts would have been out and let a jury make the decision.”
Originally, Mallonee and Moran were indicted on charges of conspiracy to commit first degree murder and attempt to commit first degree murder, WBBJ Eyewitness News said. However, Mallonee’s wife didn’t want to pursue charges against her husband, Barfield explained. “And so, I think that played a major part in the plea bargain,” Barfield added.
At one of the court hearings, multiple news outlets reported that Mallonee and his wife, Cathy, left hand in hand.
Mallonee had worked at Second Baptist for 15 years before quitting when rumors of the affair started to spread, Action 5 News reported. Action 5 added that some church members continued to support Mallonee despite the charges, putting up fliers around the courthouse that stated, “’The blood of Jesus forgives sins.”
Second Baptist Church Member David Parks said that Mallonee had confessed to the congregation that he was sinning two days before his resignation as pastor, according to The Christian Post.
Parks said he was shocked by the allegations that his pastor had attempted to murder Cathy Mallonee.
“It was just hard to deal with at the time,” Parks said. “These latest allegations are about too much to comprehend. Someone you put so much trust in and look up to, let’s face it, it’s a form of betrayal when they don’t live up to what you expect and thought they were.”
Eddie Mallonee expressed regret for his decisions in a written statement to the media but did not mention the murder charge.
“A pastor could not have asked for a more wonderful body of believers,” Mallonee wrote, according to the Christian Post. “I was blessed to get to serve a great community. Sadly, I become involved in an inappropriate relationship. I deeply hurt my wife, children, family, congregation and community. I was guilty of this adulterous relationship. I have paid the price and I will continue to pay a price for what I have done.”
The former pastor said that he had sought for forgiveness from his wife, who at that time had been married to Mallonee for 34 years. According to Eddie Mallonee, his wife forgave him.
“I have asked God, my family, my church, and the people in the community to forgive me,” Mallonee added. “I am so grateful for those who have and those who can’t, I am so sorry. The pain and disappointment I have caused so many will continue to grieve my heart for the rest of my life. I have been guilty of an adulterous relationship, poor judgment, and I have certainly not afforded my wife the fidelity that she deserved.”
At the same time, Mallonee expressed that he wanted to continue to minister. “My wife and I have servants’ hearts and we will continue to serve others however the Lord sees fit,” he said.
Freelance journalist Liz Lykins writes for WORLD Magazine, Christianity Today, Ministry Watch, and other publications.
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18 Responses
The article doesn’t say whether Mr. and Mrs. Mallonee (or Mr. Mallonee and the alleged former side piece from 2013) are still together.
I simply would not have tried to kill my wife and then go on to plant another church.
Doesn’t seem like a smart idea.
In Evangelicaland, he’ll most likely get away with it.
What a role model (NOT!!!!). And what happened to the woman he was having an affair with? Is he still with his wife that he tried to murder? Betrayal via an affair is terrible…but taking the step of transporing posion to kill her on a mission trip, and look like a victim is a whole other level. Would he have cried crocodile tears at her memorial service, sharing how she gave her life for Jesus? How much Godly repentance and Godly discernment is revealed (actually lack of discernment) by this man and the congregation who still trust him to be their leader? And did he get a raise for saying he was sorry? No wonder the world looks at the church and then runs the other way when they see “blind faith” and codependency masquerading as forgiveness. :-(
I don’t understand why he isn’t in jail. He doesn’t seem to realize the seriousness of his actions and evidently others didn’t either. Some people, white usually, get away with murder. Or close to it. There’s no shortage of people willing to follow people like him. I don’t get it. People like him make a mockery of Christians and Christianity.
The crime happened in another country so jurisdiction issues.
Who is to blame here the man starting a 2nd church or the people who support surcharge person that would try to kill his wife? Paul said that the church was doing things that the world doesn’t even do!! In other words the world was living more HOLY THEN THE CHURCH!! It’s due to the lack of teaching of HOLINESSS AND THE LACK OF THE FEAR OF GOD!!How can a man even show his face in a Holy meeting of God after what he did? NO FEAR OF GOD!! Yes God can forgive but to be behind a sacred desk teaching I could never do that
Maybe if some these so-called pastors get the Ananias and Sapphira with a visible zot from God while they are debasing the pulpit in their so-called sermon, then perhaps people will listen. Especially if it is on live TV or webcast.
Mallonnee expressed “regret” and issued a written statement to the press, but “did not mention the (conspiracy to commit) murder charge.” Sure he did. He admitted to an “inappropriate relationship” (the adulterous affair). He admitted to “not giving his wife the fidelity she deserved” (being a bad husband). As for the conspiracy with his affair partner Moran to murder his wife while in a foreign country on a mission? He called that “poor judgment”. The most serious and grievous action against another human being is to premeditate and plan their murder. This so-called pastor doesn’t publically call having murderous intent against his wife and actual plotting and taking steps to carry out her murder “sin”. Just another case of regrettable poor judgment.
Was the man ever preaching a Gospel that could save?
I doubt it. Another grifter and wolf trying to fleece the flock and abuse the sheep.
Reprehensible conduct by both the immoral pastor and his amoral, gullible new congregants. I suppose qualifications for office holders in the new church include a commitment to try not to kill your spouse. But if you do, no worries, because Jesus forgives.
Well I am sure he would not be a!lower to pastor a new church if he supported the ordination of women or criticized Trump.
So the only reason he wasn’t tried and convicted is because his wife didn’t want to pursue that? And then she was the one advocating for a plea bargain? I didn’t know that a victim has that kind of power. I thought that if he was charged with a crime of murder that the prosecution would proceed regardless of the victims wishes.
The only thing I would consider about that is that they didn’t have enough evidence. Which is a remaining question in my mind what was the basis of the accusation?
Not Surprising that with heavy masonic influence in these small town churches and communities that no one wants to go on record or talk about it…
I’m wondering what fairy tale he told his wife to get her to take him back. Or perhaps someone from the church told her “she had to forgive him” or else be branded with the scarlet “D” word. They’re all fools to trust him. I’ve seen too many guys with his mentality.
One thing not noted in this article is if the alleged “affair partner” was a member of the congregation or if Mallonee held any authority over her- because then we could add “alleged” spiritual abuse to his many “alleged” crimes.
“You can do anything — shoot somebody on 5th Avenue — and get away with it.” And the one evangelicals mostly ignored “You can do anything — grab ’em by the p***y.”
So why would anyone disqualify this guy and his mistress from starting their very own church? All under THE BLOOD. Doesn’t matter what kind of blood…