Pastor John D. White of Broomfield Township, Michigan is under arrest in a bizarre murder of the daughter of his fiancé in fulfillment of a sexual fantasy. The 14 members of Christ Community Fellowship Church knew that White was an ex-con but believed that he had changed in finding God.
White told police that he killed Rebekah Gay, 24, in her trailer by hitting her in the head with a mallet and strangled her with a zip tie. While he then stripped her body, he could not remember if he had sex with the corpse. He does remember that he then hid her body in nearby woods and returned to the trailer to dress her 3-year-old son in a Halloween costume. He admits to having a fantasy of having sex with her corpse.
White is facing a charge of first-degree murder.
White is engaged to marry Gay’s mother and lived in the same trailer park. While police searched for Gay, White contacted his small congregation and asked them to pray for her.
White was released from prison in 2007 after serving nearly 12 years for manslaughter in the death of a 26-year-old woman in Kalamazoo County. The victim was Vicky S. Wall and he was convicted of assault with intent to murder and for manslaughter in the 1994 killing. He was also sentenced to probation for choking and stabbing a 17-year-old Battle Creek girl in 1981. That is a disturbing pattern of violence against women.
One of his congregation stressed that White was “absolutely contrite” and that the murder was the work of the Devil. She noted that “[h]e was doing a lot of good and Satan did not want him doing good, and Satan got to him.”
Source: USA Today
For those who don’t or can’t grasp the point, religion does NOT make people behave better. If you believe that, I’ve got Enron shares to sell you.
At best, religion breaks even and has no effect on morality. Anyone who is ethical with religion would have been ethical without it. Ethics is how you treat people, religion is how you treat a mythical “god”. The two have nothing to do with each other.
But more often than not, people use religion to rationalize their unethical behaviour. They can say “I can pray and be forgiven!” and their religion allows it. Just look at all the child molesting priests, Shawna Forde, Mitt Romney, those who talk of Afghanistan and Iraq as “holy wars” and “crusades”, George Bush’s war crimes, etc. All of them were made possible by religion.
Bruce: “Just another reason for the death penalty…”
Yeah, sort of like a how blizzards prove global warming is a hoax.
The arguments for and against the death penalty are many, but claiming Rebekah Gay would still be alive today if only we gave the death penalty to all manslaughter convicts is not one of them.
Darren, being put in PC segregation for life is a real “ultimate” penalty. 23 hours lockdown, cannot be let out with other inmates, no yard or work privileges, and the only sunlight is what can be seen through a slit window. Until he dies.
P.S.
Don’t be so hasty to blame faith. This guy’s just a murdering con artist
Usually a Pastor is content to just fleece the flock and go on about his/her dumbell way.
P S
Religion wasn’t the cause the first murder was it?
Religion was involved and caused the murder. Why be surprised?
Bruce, Almost certainly a plea bargain.
I’d like to know how the first killing was ruled manslaughter
Bruce:
Unfortunately Michigan does not have a death penalty.
Just another reason for the death penalty, it’s the second time he’s killed. .
Flip Wilson made millions w/ “The devil made me do it.”
“One of his congregation stressed that White was “absolutely contrite” and that the murder was the work of the Devil. She noted that “[h]e was doing a lot of good and Satan did not want him doing good, and Satan got to him.”
I must categorically state that people who believe in “the Devil Made Me Do It” justification of ones acts, are quite frankly idiots.
Killing is a very “popular” religion.
I look @ that nose and face and say, “Gee, I wonder if he’s an alcoholic?” I’ve long thought prior to parole, fellow inmates should be interviewed to get the REAL scoop on a potential parolee. I would bet they knew this shitbird would kill again. I would not make those interviews dispositive, just a factor.
Darren – it would be impossible for him to be a recidivist, he had accepted Jesus and was saved! He was doing Gods work according to the testimony of his followers. Certainly an omniscient omnipotent omnipresent deity could not be foiled by a mere demon. The only logical conclusion to draw was that this act was Gods will.
Lock him up and throw away the key.
I believe it would be safe to say this man might be a recidivist. Though as evidenced by past actions the Michigan criminal justice system might disagree. 🙁
With God all things are possible