From the Washington Post.

In the fall of 2008, this modest assembly needed a new minister. Its governing elders — Robert Thomas, a retired lieutenant from the Virginia Department of Corrections, and Gary Rexrode, a retired builder — were delighted to find that a man such as William M. Drumheller III was eager to take the job at $600 a week with free housing in the parsonage.

Sounds good so far.

Then, early this summer, after a series of angry confrontations with the elders, sparked by scriptural interpretations about what becomes of the soul after death….

Often the most intense argument are about things that don’t even exist.  I call it religion.  What can you do if you get into an argument like this?  Investigate the other side. 

…they hired a private detective to check into Drumheller’s business dealings.  The investigation unearthed a stunning revelation, which soon made headlines in the Daily News-Record, the local newspaper: Drumheller — never mind his seemingly genteel nature — had beaten his girlfriend’s 14-month-old son to death in 1970.

Uh, oh!  Maybe it was an accident….

The autopsy said the cause of death was “explosive rupture of the stomach.” The child’s lungs also had burst. He had deep bruises on his thighs and buttocks. He had severe brain damage from a blow to the head. Drumheller acknowledged to the court that he had “chronically” abused the child. He was particularly angered, he told the psychiatrist, because the child would not cry when spanked.

Holy shit!  After just 12 years in jail he was out and started a new life.  He got a new wife and cheated on her.  Got another new wife and then some kids.  Beat the kids…

..his father beat him, his brother and his mother. “I was so near to death with him so many times,” he said, his voice shaking. “You’d just have to run and hope he didn’t find you.” He said he has been “on suicide watch” in hospitals because of childhood physical abuse by his father.

Yikes.  These poor people.

When asked about it, this is what the minister had to say…

He said he had accepted personal responsibility for the death of David Breitweiser and had been forgiven by God for it. He declined further comment on the killing. He declined to comment on the fraud conviction and the inspector general’s testimony. He said the incidents of abuse recounted by his son and stepson were “outright, blatant lies, unconscionable to even hear” and were fabricated by vindictive ex-wives.

Ouch.  I guess i’m glad I don’t go to that church.

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