The wife of a Southern Baptist pastor has been charged with stealing more than $400,000 from a South Carolina church and may face additional charges related to theft at other churches, police say.
Ware Shoals Police Chief Bryan Louis told The Roys Report (TRR) that Shelley Strickland, wife of Baptist Pastor Mark Strickland, confessed to stealing $404,000 from First Baptist Church of Ware Shoals, South Carolina.
Shelley Strickland worked as the financial secretary at First Baptist from 2017—2024, Louis said.
However, her husband pastors First Damascus Baptist Church in nearby Bradley, South Carolina, and the couple live in the parsonage there, Louis added.
Police arrested Shelley Strickland on August 9 and charged her with breach of trust over $10,000, Louis stated. If convicted, Strickland faces up to 10 years in prison, he said.
Louis added that Strickland is suspected of stealing money from other churches within the jurisdiction of the Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office, and that he expects the sheriff to file additional charges soon.
TRR called the Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office for more information but did not receive a response before publication.
Police have also reported Strickland to the IRS for failing to pay taxes on the money she allegedly stole.
Louis said First Baptist Church initially became suspicious of Strickland when she resisted training someone else for her job. That’s when the church reportedly found evidence of wrongdoing.
