Beaver Creek Baptist Church in Baker, FL Pastor takes his life after being charged with sexual abuse

[Ian David]

BAKER (FBW)—A Florida pastor shot and killed himself April 3 after being charged with sexual abuse of an 11-year-old girl. The allegations of abuse were being investigated by police in Brewton, Ala., where the man resided.

Stephen Lyle "Steve" Whittaker, 40, of Brewton, Ala., served as pastor of rural Beaver Creek Baptist Church in Baker for about a year until he resigned after felony charges against him. Newspaper reports said Whittaker was out of jail on a $5,000 bond and was living in a travel trailer parked at his father's home at the time of his death.

Whittaker previously served a few churches as music director in the Escambia Baptist Association in Alabama, according to The Alabama Baptist newspaper. He had also worked as a truck driver and most recently served as a chaplain for a hospice in Brewton, which is about 30 miles from Baker.

<snip>

Brewton police reported that Whittaker surrendered at the police station and in a brief interview admitted accidentally "touching the child several times" as the two were playing.

More:
http://www.floridabaptistwitness.com/7236.article

[jamesinca]

1. this says it for me

"admitted accidentally "touching the child several times" as the two were playing." Baptist, Southern Baptist actually is the only religion to endorse the war in Iraq. Southern Baptist wanted to have Martin Luther King assassinated. Baptist worry me, they really do.

[rfranklin]

2. Accidentally slipped his hand into her panties and touched her genitals...

Happens all the time.

[Libby2]

3. Oh nice!!

So, the fucking moron leaves the 11 year old with this too.

[Bluebear]

4. Coward. nt

[mwb970]

5. What is it with preachers and perversion?

They seem more susceptible than the public at large. Just asking.

[Ian David]

6. The Vatican admits to 7% of their clergy having "credible complaints" against them.

That's the number that they admit to themselves.

[lectrobyte]

10. The perverts seek out positions like that. Trusted, access to children, etc.

[SarahB]

7. He won't be a re-offender then I suppose.

Wish I had some empathy there, but I'm finding it too difficult in a case like this.

[Bluebear]

8. I have empathy for his wife, child and the victim.

Leaving a suicide to top off their plates. Friggin' coward's way out.

[SarahB]

9. Yes, those left in the aftermath. I agree. nt