Pastors Warned After 'Horrific' Slaying

By SEAN MURPHY, AP
posted: 2 HOURS 32 MINUTES AGOcomments: 1335filed under: Crime News, National NewsPRINT|E-MAILMOREText SizeAAAANADARKO, Okla. (Aug. 26) - Authorities warned pastors in a town where a preacher was brutally killed inside her own church that they should take precautions at their buildings, even as police refused to say exactly what happened.
District Attorney Bret Burns, who described the killing as "horrific," held a closed-door session with about two dozen pastors, along with members of law enforcement. Several pastors who were there said authorities did not discuss any facts of the case.
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A Gruesome DeathAlonzo Adams, AP3 photos Authorities warned clergy in Anadarko, Okla., to be vigilant Wednesday, days after a Pentecostal pastor was found brutally slain in her own church. An autopsy determined Carol Daniels died of "multiple sharp force injuries" but police have not released further details. "This is the most horrific crime scene I've ever witnessed," District Attorney Bret Burns said.(Note: Please disable your pop-up blocker)
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'The Most Horrific Crime Scene'
Carol Daniels was found slain inside the Christ Holy Sanctified Church in Anadarko, Okla. She was pastor of the small Pentecostal church. "I've prosecuted over 50 murders," District Attorney Bret Burns said Tuesday. "This is the most horrific crime scene I've ever witnessed." An autopsy determined Daniels died of "multiple sharp force injuries," but investigators would not elaborate.
Alonzo Adams, AP
Alonzo Adams, AP

"We talked about security issues within their churches and their congregations," Burns said. "We asked them to remain vigilant and be aware of their surroundings and their church locations."
He did not say why the meeting was held just with pastors rather than the community at large, or what kind of a threat the clergy might face.
The body of 61-year-old Carol Daniels was found Sunday in the Christ Holy Sanctified Church in Anadarko. A preliminary autopsy found she died of "multiple sharp force injuries," but law enforcement declined to elaborate and have been tight-lipped about details of the crime or a possible motive.
Burns did not rule out the possibility that the killer specifically targeted a pastor or a church.
"There are a lot of things we're not prepared to rule out," he said. "I'm concerned about the nature of this crime. I'm concerned about the community."
No arrests have been made, and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation has offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction.
Tracy Schumpert, pastor of the town's First United Methodist Church where the meeting was held, met afterward with a worker from an alarm company.
"I think we'll take precautions," she said. "But I don't feel overly fearful.
"You want your church to be accessible, but you also are aware of what the world is like and you're aware of the people you minister to and take precautions."
Ben Sullivan, executive director of the Christian Center of Anadarko, which runs a soup kitchen and food pantry, said he's not fearful of another attack but plans to tighten security at his facility a few blocks away from where the killing happened. He said the center will probably close before dark and volunteers will work in pairs.
"We're always keeping our eyes open because of the work we do. We deal with people that aren't in the best of situations," he said.
Daniels, who lived in Oklahoma City, made the 60-mile drive to Anadarko every week, even though the small, weather-beaten church had no regular congregation.
On Wednesday, a makeshift memorial of stuffed animals, flowers and a candle stood at the front door of the church, where a sign with Daniels' name read: "God Loves You!"
Randalyn Holder, whose mother lives nearby, rode by the church on her bicycle and stopped to prop a small, wooden cross against the door.
"I never knew her or met her, but I think about the faith she had to come down here every week," she said.
Holder, who works at a local grocery store, said the killing has rattled residents of the town.
"You never hear about anything like that happening here," she said. "I'm not going to hide out or anything, but I'm going to make sure my door is locked at night."
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
2009-08-24 15:47:12
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This is a senseless act of violence and it's of the devil.
So what precautions should the church mandate to stop the killing of pastors in the pulpit??? Should they hire armed bodyguards? Should they implement monitor devices that scans the flock in entering the church for weapons? What is the answer? I'm not so sure as to what this blog is speaking about, other than more random violence that goes on everyday in the world. Missionaries who go to the front lines are being martyred daily. The Bible states that those who live Godly will suffer.
Bro. Scott,
I pray that God will open up your understanding and give you wisdom of what to say, when to say it and how to say it. That comment "Missionaries who go to the front lines are being martyred daily. The Bible states that those who live Godly will suffer, " was not called for.
This story is not about Missionaries on the front line. People who are on the front line in a war, whether they're saints or sinners, are all at risk of being killed. We're talking now about some low life, demonic filled person walking into the house of God and killing one of Gods servants.
Then you had the audacity to throw in a (partial) bible scripture. "Those who live Godly will suffer."
First of all, if you're gonna quote the scripture, quote it right and in full. That scripture says, Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. II Timothy 3:12
However, if you read verse 11, you'll find that the suffering was of persecution. Not of violent death.
The latter part of verse 11 says, "but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
Where is deliverance in a senseless death like this? Again the scripture was talking about persecution.
Here is the definition of persecution : the condition of being persecuted, harassed, or annoyed.
If my memory serves me right, you are the same guy who said women who are in abusive relationships should stay in those relationships and endure the suffering because Jesus suffered.
Once again my brother, you missed the mark on this one.
This will be my only response to the non-sense comment you made because I'm not gonna go back and forth with you. I remember the conversation with you several months ago about domestic violence and going back and forth with that nonsense was mentally drainning.
However, all that I have said, is truly out of love and I will be praying for God to open your understanding on the issues of suffering.
I would just like to add that all of the comments that were made were all on point and right. But we must also realize that we are living in the last day and the end is at hand. Me must also think that the word of God tell us of this time and it is now at hand. Why do i say that satain is building his kingdom now because he can not come until the world is in total caos sin death and destrtion must be running wild and he will step in and bring world peace. I know that rapture is when he will come fourth but he has to perpare the way killings,rape violents,desturction of marriages you name it it happening. Did not the word of God say that in the last days we will not no the changing of the season.father against son, mother against daughters,war and.just to name a few. So is not satian building his kingdom? Think about it when God say enough is enough that when the rapture will come so are you ready? So out of all things good or bad get an understanding it all in God's plan. All that is happening has happen before. God word is the word. And yes even thought we do not like it or understand it sometimes bad things happen to good people. When it happen it is at the right time.Remember all things are in Gods hands.We all must die one way or another. Some people deaths are to open the eyes of others. That just how i see it.

Blessins to you all.
Lady J

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