The wife of a young missionary killed in Africa late last year has been officially charged, according to the couple’s home church.
Beau Shroyer, 44, was killed on Oct. 25, 2024, in an act of violence while serving Jesus in a remote area of Angola, Africa.
Last November, Angolan authorities arrested his wife, Jackie, in connection with his death, as The Roys Report (TRR) previously reported.
On Monday, Lakes Area Vineyard Church in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, released a statement giving an update on the investigation.
“It saddens me immensely to have to share with you that we were notified that Jackie has been formally charged as a co-author in the murder of her husband,” said Troy Easton, lead pastor of Lakes Area Vineyard Church. “As a result of formal charges, it is our understanding, that she will remain in custody and be tried before a judge.”
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Easton says the court date has not yet been set but is expected to take place within the next six months.
Three people, including Jackie and Bernardino Elias, who worked as a security guard and housekeeper for the family, were taken into custody in November. A fourth suspect has successfully evaded police.
According to Angola’s criminal investigation service, or Serviço de Investigação (SIC), Jackie allegedly paid one of her guards $50,000 to kill her husband, as she was allegedly having an affair with Elias.
“It is suspected that passionate motives involving the mastermind and an employee of the family may be behind the crime,” said SIC spokesman, Manuel Halaiwa. “There are strong suspicions here of a possibly romantic relationship in relation to the principal, in this case, and her accomplice, the citizen who was initially guarded through a private security company, but who after terminating 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.”
An American-made knife and four million and 500 thousand kwanzas were allegedly seized at the scene.
The investigation is ongoing and SIC continues to work alongside the American embassy.
Easton says that the couple’s five children will continue to be cared for by close family with support from the Society for International Missions (SIM) and Lakes Area Vineyard Church.
“Please continue to cling to the Lord and His unchanging character, nature and love and continue to pray for truth to be clear, for justice to be served and for God’s kingdom to come and will to be done.”
This article was originally published by CHVN Radio.
Journalist Colleen Houde is a news writer and on-air host at CHVN in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
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12 Responses
The police spokesman said “strong suspicions here of a possibly romantic relationship”. Notice the words “suspicions” and “possibly”. As a former resident missionary for 15 years in a foreign country, I can tell you that foreign missionaries frequently suffer from the abuse of authority by corrupt police and government officials. Americans are targeted because they are believed to be rich. The authorities abuse their power to extort money. False accusations are a tool of extortion. This sister is innocent until proven guilty. Sadly though, she may never get a fair trial. I am praying for her.
Agreed. I talked to an African pastor who came to America and he said that Africans call Americans “white wallets.” If this isn’t obvious enough, then all the scams online from Africans should be enough proof.
Esther, whether she is guilty or innocent, I’m not sure it’s helpful to lump all 1.5 BILLION Africans together by saying that “‘Africans’ call Americans ‘white wallets’.” I have many African friends who would find that highly offensive. Especially based off of one person’s comment (from who knows how many years ago). Also, just because the online scams claim to be from someone in Africa (I’m assuming you are referring to the Nigerian Prince emails which got popular in the 90s…but I could be wrong), does not at all mean they are from Africans. With all due respect, I find these (frankly, gross and racist) stereotypes hardly proof of her innocence.
So, the Angolan police, among the most corrupt on the planet, accuse a mother of 5 kids of adultery and murder, and everyone just believes them??
Similar logic is used to explain why Watchman Nee’s arrest and imprisonment by the Chinese Communist Party for sexual immorality and financial crimes should not be believed. Multiple sources have confirmed that Nee was no martyr for Christ.
I do hope that this mother is found not guilty for the sake of her innocent children.
I am a missionary kid and grew up on that side of the world. Poor countries dependent on American aid/investment will sooner blame the victims in order to dodge the shame and diplomatic fallout of violence against foreign citizens. “Justice” is bought in these countries, and it is crucial that the author and others at this website:
1. Not take these claims at face value, and receive these allegations with intense skepticism
2. Demand international involvement in this investigation
Chances are she is innocent, and has to endure intense humiliation on top of losing her husband.
This reminds me of the case of Matthew and Grace Huang who were charged with murdering their adopted daughter in Qatar. Qatar is not even a poor country, but they wanted to blame the innocent parents. I don’t know if this wife is guilty, but many countries do not have the level of due process that we are used to in the US.
Points to ponder. How likely is it that the spouse/suspect would be able to accumulate and pay $50,000? That’s a lot of money for a mission that didn’t seem like it had a lot of funding. If I was a cop or prosecutor I’d like to see a money trail before proceeding to trial. Are funds missing from their missionary account? Did the wife hit up friends and relatives back home or money before the crime took place?
Also, I did the math via a conversion table online and 4.5 million kwanzas in Angolan currency is worth about $4500 US dollars. Now if the seized funds were $40,000-50,000 dollars then I’d say that the Angolan authorities were definitely on to something.
Assuming she is guilty, in what kind of state of mind are you to have the dad of your 5 children killed? As a mother, I cannot wrap my mind around it.
i’m confused. perhaps my understanding of missionaries is not correct? since when do missionaries have housekeepers and 50k?
“security guard and housekeeper for the family”
“paid one of her guards $50,000”
In dangerous countries, there will sometimes be a compound that the missionaries live on (and possibly also run mission activities from, such as clinics or business startups run by locals). They will hire locals as guards. The guards also watch for things like poisonous snakes as well as violent attacks. When the mission hires locals, it also offers them an opening to get to know some of the local people, which gives them connections to the community and ways to reach out to people.
Also, in many countries, hiring a local person for decent pay is a form of economic stimulus and aid for their whole extended family that encourages work instead of having a missionary just giving poor people money. I know missionaries who employ women who had to flee domestic violence and help support them and their children so they can pay their children’s school fees. These women would not be able to find easy employment in their communities as they were considered shameful women.
Also, in many places domestic work and errands takes so long that it would be impossible for the missionary wives to minister in the community if they did not have help. The family can both help vulnerable members of the local community and give themselves time to do the ministry that their supporters are giving them money to do.