Wife of US Missionary Killed in Angola Arrested in Connection with His Death

In a shocking turn of events, the wife of a US missionary who was killed in Angola has been arrested in connection with his death. Beau Shroyer, a 44-year-old former pastor from Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, was killed on October 25 in a “violent, criminal attack” while on a missionary trip in Angola with his wife, Jackie, and their five children.

According to a statement released by Lakes Area Vineyard Church, where Beau was a former pastor, Jackie Shroyer has been taken into custody by Angolan authorities. The church’s lead pastor, Troy M. Easton, expressed deep grief and disbelief over the news, stating that the community’s “grief and sadness has deepened immeasurably” upon learning of Jackie’s arrest.

The Shroyer family moved to Angola in 2021 to serve as missionaries with SIM USA, a North Carolina-based Evangelical organization. They were based in a “remote bush village” without basic amenities such as electricity, sewer, or water systems. Beau and Jackie were dedicated to teaching the local residents about Christianity and providing vocational training to young people in the area.

Before his death, Beau had shared updates about their missionary work on social media, highlighting the challenges and successes they faced. In one of his last posts, he mentioned meeting a young student named Mauricio who walked long distances to attend school, emphasizing the lack of access to education in the region.

The circumstances leading to Beau’s death and the specifics of how his wife is connected to the incident remain unclear, as authorities in Angola have not released detailed information. The church and SIM USA are working together to ensure the well-being and safety of the Shroyer children.

SIM USA’s Chief Personnel Officer and General Counsel, Mark Bosscher, confirmed that the organization has taken steps to ensure Jackie has appropriate legal representation and is collaborating with the church to care for the children.