Wife arrested after Minnesota missionary Beau Shroyer killed in Africa

The wife of a missionary killed in a “violent, criminal attack” in Africa last week has been arrested in connection with his death, his church said.

Beau Shroyer, 44, of Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, was killed Oct. 25 while on a mission trip to Angola, Africa, with his wife and their five children.

Shroyer's church, Lakes Area Vineyard Church, announced in a statement Friday that his wife, Jackie Shroyer, was arrested but did not provide further details.

“Today our grief and sadness deepened immeasurably as we learned that his wife, Jackie Shroyer, was arrested in connection with his death,” said a statement from senior pastor Troy M. Easton.

The priest went on to say that they had not found words to express their “disbelief and sadness” following the news of their arrest.

The family moved to the country three years ago to work as missionaries for the SIM organization.

The priest said the couple's five children were “well cared for” at this point.

SIM released a statement after Shroyer's death saying it was “working closely with Lakes Area Vineyard Church to care for the Shroyers' five children.”

Mark Bosscher, SIM USA's chief personnel officer and general counsel, told the Detroit Lakes Tribune that the organization has “taken steps to ensure that Jackie has appropriate legal representation.”

The Shroyer family previously spoke to the Detroit Lakes Tribune about their move to Angola.

They told the outlet they were moving to a “remote bush village” with no electricity.

Jackie said the family will teach area residents about Christianity and the love of God.

Before becoming a missionary, Beau was a member of the Detroit Lakes Police Department and a real estate agent.