Pastor Faces Embezzlement Charges Over Disaster Aid
A pastor from North Carolina has been arrested and charged with embezzling funds that were meant for hurricane relief efforts. Jeffrey Brian Merrow, 60, was the pastor of Garden Creek Baptist Church and is facing felony charges of embezzlement and larceny. His arrest follows a detailed investigation that revealed financial misconduct involving donations from the church congregation.
The investigation into Merrow’s actions began in October after church members raised concerns about possible embezzlement and theft related to the hurricane relief efforts following Hurricane Helene. The hurricane caused significant damage and loss of life in North Carolina. Church members discovered that some of the funds intended for disaster relief were misappropriated, with receipts showing goods that were never purchased and services that were never provided. Additionally, large amounts of cash donations collected for the relief efforts were handed to Merrow but never used for their intended purpose. Items donated by the community, such as generators and chainsaws, were also reported stolen.
Merrow’s criminal history is extensive, dating back nearly 20 years. He is currently on supervised probation for a separate crime involving obtaining property by false pretenses, which resulted in a charge exceeding $100,000. His past criminal record includes multiple financial crimes, including a 2006 charge for failing to provide proper receipts or contracts in a sale and a 2008 conviction for fraud. In 2021, he was convicted of larceny in Camden County and was sentenced to 60 months of supervised probation.
Merrow also maintained a YouTube channel where he posted sermons from his time at Garden Creek Baptist Church. Although the channel linked to a now-defunct blog offering religious content and discussions, archived versions show Merrow’s posts on topics ranging from the Ten Commandments to prayers. He is no longer serving as the pastor of Garden Creek Baptist Church, with Richard Anderson now listed as the interim pastor.
This case highlights not only financial misconduct but also the erosion of trust in a community leader who was entrusted with both spiritual and financial responsibilities.