Pastor’s mistress, LaToshia Daniels, gets nearly 21 years in prison for his murder
Despite pleas for mercy from Daniels, family members and friends, Judge Jennifer Fitzgerald said the social worker’s murder of her former lover was "senseless" and warranted a lengthy sentence.
"A broken heart does not justify someone dying," said Fitzgerald, according to The Commercial Appeal.
Daniels is expected to serve 20 years in prison for second-degree murder, and another 11 months and 29 days for reckless endangerment concurrently.
Daniels, 46, was tried for first-degree murder and attempted murder in the April 4, 2019, shooting at the Perrys' apartment in Collierville, Tennessee. The late pastor's widow, Tabatha Archie, was also shot by Daniels during the 2019 attack.
Archie testified in court that she was unaware that her late husband was in a relationship with Daniels, whom she met through a church in Little Rock, Arkansas, two years before the shooting. Perry was serving as pastor of assimilation at Saint Mark Baptist Church at the time.
In her testimony during the trial, Daniels testified that Perry seduced her during a counseling session at the Arkansas church, where she was being counseled through a divorce. She stated, however, that she never meant to kill him.
"I loved Brodes. I would never intentionally hurt him," Daniels said as she spoke in her defense on the third day of her trial in Shelby County, Tennessee, WATN-TV reported.
The prosecution tried to convince the jury that Daniels premeditated the murder through testimony that she bought the gun she used in the attack hours before the murder. Daniels, who was a licensed social worker and owned The Root Behavioral Health, specializing in anger management, insisted that she bought the gun to end her own life.
On Tuesday, Daniels, who is a mother of two boys and appears to have remarried, told the judge she was “godly sorrowful” for her actions.
“I know what I did. I wasn't in the best of health. And I know it doesn't take away what happened, but please know that I'm godly sorrowful. And I ask that you extend grace and mercy,” she pleaded.
Her cousin, Andreka Brock, who said Daniels is like a sister to her, told the judge that she was always the one helping others, but couldn’t get the support she needed in her darkest hour.
“She has always been a present, nurturing and devoted mother. I have watched her love them (her sons). Fight for them, pray over them, and show up for them every single day. LaToshia has spent years helping others — counselling men, women and children who were struggling in life,” Brock said, according to a recording of her statement shared by ABC 24
“I watched her start and build a nonprofit to support other people and continue this mission even while facing her own struggles. She has always been the person that people leaned on and poured into these people consistently,” she explained.
“But during one of the darkest times of her own life, she was struggling in many ways that we didn’t fully see. And as a big sister, I carry that heavily because I feel like I failed in some way. This does not excuse what happened, but I want you to know that this was not the act of a cold, heartless person. This was a broken person in pain that made a devastating decision.”
Randy Saylor of Living Word Church gets 10-year minimum sentence over sex assault of kids
Randy Saylor, a former pastor at Living Word Church in Midland County, Michigan, was sentenced to serve at least 10 years in prison for sexually assaulting minors.
Midland County Circuit Court Judge Michael Beale sentenced the 73-year-old Saylor on Tuesday to between 10 and 25 years of prison, reported ABC 12 News, as well as lifetime monitoring on the Michigan Sex Offender Registry.
Living Word Church Administrator William Bailey said in a statement to the Midland Daily News at the time of the arrest that the congregation was “deeply saddened and concerned.”
“It has come to our attention that Randy Saylor, a member of our pastoral team, is under investigation for allegations of sexual abuse,” Bailey stated.
“There are no allegations that the abuse took place at the church or involved the church in any way. We are cooperating fully with law enforcement authorities in their investigation. Randy has been suspended from all duties pending the outcome of the investigation.”
In January, Saylor pleaded no contest to four counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct with a relation and seven counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct. As part of his plea, Saylor did not admit to committing any crime, but did so in order to avoid potential civil liability.
Saylor was one of three leaders at Living Word Church in recent times to be convicted of sex crimes related to minors. Saylor’s son, Brandon Saylor, a former elder of the church, was sentenced in April 2024 to five to 15 years in prison for sexually abusing four children.
James Randolph, a former preacher tied to Living Word and the son-in-law of televangelist Mark Barclay, was convicted in August 2025 of six counts of criminal sexual conduct involving a child.
Specifically, a Midland County jury found Randolph guilty of one count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a child under 13, two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct involving a relationship, and three counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a relationship.
In response to the verdict, Barclay posted a statement on his ministry’s Facebook page, saying that he and his family “respect the legal process and the verdict returned by the jury.”
“The recent legal case involving James Randolph has been a very difficult and heartbreaking situation for our church family and community,” stated Barclay at the time.
“We recognize that this situation has caused real pain for many. As a church community, our hearts are with all victims of abuse. We are committed to truth, accountability, and safety in our ministries.”
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