More details are emerging about alleged the murder of Christian missionary Beau Shroyer. According to authorities in Angola, Shroyer’s wife, Jackie, was romantically involved with a household employee and allegedly offered to pay him and two other local men to kill Beau.
As ChurchLeaders reported, Beau and Jackie Shroyer, both 44, moved to a remote Angolan village in 2021 with their five children. Beau was conducting youth outreach with the evangelical mission organization SIM USA.
RELATED: Wife of Christian Missionary in Angola Arrested on Suspicion of His Murder
On Oct. 25, Beau, a former pastor in Minnesota, was the victim of a “violent, criminal attack,” according to a statement from Lakes Area Vineyard Church in Detroit Lakes. Days later, Jackie was arrested in connection with her husband’s murder.
Angolan Officials Suspect Murder-for-Hire Plot in Beau Shroyer’s Death
Last week, the Angola Press Agency reported on the arrest of two local men in the case, plus an ongoing hunt for a third suspect. All three men have criminal records that include kidnapping and robbery with a firearm. The two detained men, ages 23 and 24, had worked as a housekeeper and security guard for the Shroyers.
Regarding a possible motive, a lead investigator with Angola’s Criminal Investigation Service (SIC) pointed to “strong suspicions of a romantic relationship” between Jackie Shroyer and one of the detained men. The investigator alleged that Jackie masterminded the plot, offering the men up to $50,000 to kill Beau, because she wanted to stay in Angola after his missionary assignment ended.
According to authorities, Jackie paid the men some money upfront and promised them more afterward. The suspects reportedly rented a car, drove to a remote area, and called Beau Shroyer to say they were stranded and needed help.
When Beau arrived, the men allegedly stabbed him to death while Jackie was briefly away from the scene. The murder weapon was reportedly a knife that the missionary had once gifted to one of the male suspects.
Jackie Shroyer’s “distraught” reaction to her husband’s murder wasn’t believable, officials alleged. They added that the U.S. embassy in Angola is monitoring the situation and communicating with relatives of the Shroyers in America.
Mission Organization: Pray and Be Patient
SIM USA, an evangelical Christian organization, said it is focused on seeking justice for its deceased missionary. It is also ensuring that Jackie has “appropriate legal representation” and that the couple’s five children are “well cared for.”
