Pastor charged after grandfather of 7 drowns during baptism — and said she saw him ‘dancing with Jesus’
A UK pastor is facing a manslaughter charge following the death of a grandfather during a baptism ceremony held inside a private home.
Cheryl Bartley, 48, is accused in connection with an incident in October 2023 involving Robert Smith, 61, who died while being baptised in a small children’s paddling pool at a residence in Birmingham. The service was being livestreamed on the Facebook page of her ministry, Life Changing Ministries, when the broadcast abruptly stopped during the ceremony.
Smith, who had Parkinson’s disease and was described as a born-again Christian, lost consciousness during the baptism. Despite emergency responders being called, he was pronounced dead at the scene. A post-mortem examination later concluded that the cause of death was drowning, according to West Midlands Police.
Following the incident, Bartley allegedly recorded a separate video discussing Smith’s death in which she claimed she believed he was in heaven and “dancing with Jesus,” according to reporting from the Telegraph.
Authorities have charged her with gross negligence manslaughter, an offense in the UK that can carry a prison sentence ranging from several years up to around 18 years depending on circumstances. She is scheduled to appear before Birmingham Magistrates’ Court on May 14.
Smith, originally from Jamaica, had lived in the UK for about 25 years and worked as a barber in Brixton, London, according to the Guardian. He had previously been baptised but chose to undergo the ceremony again as part of his renewed commitment to his faith, the Telegraph reported.
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