MN - Beau Shroyer, Wife of Detroit Lakes missionary killed in Angola arrested in connection to his death

[RickshawFan]

I had such a weird reaction to this photograph....
The picture of all the boys is quite serene and beautiful...

But all of a sudden, Jackie looks like Shanna Gardner to me! Oh NO!!!!
View attachment 542997

You are SO right! I was wondering who she reminded me of.

 

[RickshawFan]

I was trying to find local Angolan news sources. Various links seem to be no longer in use or are unsafe/not secure links.

Fyi, here is a wikipedia list with various newspapers & journals:

Lista de jornais e revistas de Angola – Wikipédia, a enciclopédia livre

pt.wikipedia.org

And a newspaper that I can load but a search on "Shroyer" did not return any articles or information:

Jornal de Angola - Paixão pela imprensa

www.jornaldeangola.ao

Mostly posting if others also want to search or try to find some more local coverage, if it exists.

Wow, it’s just nice to be looking at photos and topics to get a sense of the country. I would never have guessed how developed it is, and spic and span. Beautiful Portuguese colonial buildings kept spiffy.

 

[RickshawFan]

I am actually responding to this post to bring your list of speculations to the front again. A couple of subsequent posts have reiterated one thing or another from your list.

You did NOT included, covering up a possible affair, but I think it has to be on this list. Especially given that she has been arrested "in connection to" this murder. AND because, statistically, this is often the case in similar situations.

You HAVE mentioned covering for a child, as someone else has mentioned. I personally think this is a relevant speculation, though don't believe it to be the case. 4 older girls, one younger boy. Just don't think so.

We do seem to be back with “garden variety” motivations, and not foreign intrigue. By garden variety, I mean the typical “sex and money”.

 

[Trooper]

We do seem to be back with “garden variety” motivations, and not foreign intrigue. By garden variety, I mean the typical “sex and money”.

sex, religion and money, the three motivators for murder in any country, among any community... I wonder if she speaks Portugese? that's the official language, among 46 or somewhere around that number of other languages... mostly of Bantu origin... Her charges will all be in Portugese, and she will be assigned a Portugese speaking advocate.... There is not much the US Embassy can do for her, except politely and diplomatically direct someone to visit her, take clean clothing , etc.. the Embassy cannot interfere with the judicial process...

 

[Inthedetails]

sex, religion and money, the three motivators for murder in any country, among any community... I wonder if she speaks Portugese? that's the official language, among 46 or somewhere around that number of other languages... mostly of Bantu origin... Her charges will all be in Portugese, and she will be assigned a Portugese speaking advocate.... There is not much the US Embassy can do for her, except politely and diplomatically direct someone to visit her, take clean clothing , etc.. the Embassy cannot interfere with the judicial process...

I don't think religion specifically will play a role, other than perhaps it appealed to his personality to be a leader and it ended up harming her while living in a place far from support.

Yes, that is speculation. I don't know if it's true, but I suspect he was attracted to roles that provided him with power, challenge, control, recognition. Of course, that doesn't not condone killing him, OF COURSE. And, it's speculation only.

jmo

 

[azure]

I am reminded of the excellent novel, The Poisonwood Bible. This story could be a modern adaptation with a slightly different set of twists. I highly recommend the book for anyone looking for greater understanding of the missionary lifestyle and Africa itself-although the book is fiction, it contains a great deal of African history and is based on the author's own childhood experiences.

I've traveled solo to 3 African countries, so I am by no means an expert. However, I have traveled to many developing countries, and I find their take on Angola rather odd. That's all I will say for now, until more information is available.

My only other thought is that it seems known in the church that Beau was killed by his wife because of xx actions on his part. While I agree that "he wasn't a perfect person" is common church-speak, it is not what would be said of a Christian missionary murdered abroad, IMO, unless some unsavory facts are known. At this point time will tell.

 

[Trooper]

I don't think religion specifically will play a role, other than perhaps it appealed to his personality to be a leader and it ended up harming her while living in a place far from support.

Yes, that is speculation. I don't know if it's true, but I suspect he was attracted to roles that provided him with power, challenge, control, recognition. Of course, that doesn't not condone killing him, OF COURSE. And, it's speculation only.

jmo

It's interesting that you don't think religion plays a role in this incident. maybe one of them went off the rails, did not adhere to the principles both would claim to have, causing terrific tension. .. I meant specifically, religious conflict between the husband and the wife, not so much between them and the good folk of Angola....it does cause trouble all over the world!.. I take on board your view, though re the prism , perhaps, that he saw himself and his 'calling' , so to speak...

 

[Trooper]

I am reminded of the excellent novel, The Poisonwood Bible. This story could be a modern adaptation with a slightly different set of twists. I highly recommend the book for anyone looking for greater understanding of the missionary lifestyle and Africa itself-although the book is fiction, it contains a great deal of African history and is based on the author's own childhood experiences.

I've traveled solo to 3 African countries, so I am by no means an expert. However, I have traveled to many developing countries, and I find their take on Angola rather odd. That's all I will say for now, until more information is available.

My only other thought is that it seems known in the church that Beau was killed by his wife because of xx actions on his part. While I agree that "he wasn't a perfect person" is common church-speak, it is not what would be said of a Christian missionary murdered abroad, IMO, unless some unsavory facts are known. At this point time will tell.

Oddly, I was instantly reminded of 'Rain' by W.Somerset Maugham.

 

[Inthedetails]

It's interesting that you don't think religion plays a role in this incident. maybe one of them went off the rails, did not adhere to the principles both would claim to have, causing terrific tension. .. I meant specifically, religious conflict between the husband and the wife, not so much between them and the good folk of Angola....it does cause trouble all over the world!.. I take on board your view, though re the prism , perhaps, that he saw himself and his 'calling' , so to speak...

What I mean is it has a role, but more as a contributing factor than a main factor, imo. I think the mission work appealed to him and there are likely many reasons why it did. So yeah, it plays a role, but in a complicated way, not direct.

jmo

 

[RickshawFan]

sex, religion and money, the three motivators for murder in any country, among any community... I wonder if she speaks Portugese? that's the official language, among 46 or somewhere around that number of other languages... mostly of Bantu origin... Her charges will all be in Portugese, and she will be assigned a Portugese speaking advocate.... There is not much the US Embassy can do for her, except politely and diplomatically direct someone to visit her, take clean clothing , etc.. the Embassy cannot interfere with the judicial process...

I’m laughing at myself because I knew standard motivations were 3, but couldn’t for the life of me remember the third, which is front and center here, namely religion. I can’t tell yet whether religion in this case is motivation, though, or just flavoring context.

 

[Inthedetails]

While I agree that "he wasn't a perfect person" is common church-speak, it is not what would be said of a Christian missionary murdered abroad, IMO, unless some unsavory facts are known. At this point time will tell.

snipped

Yes, it strikes me as an out-of-place thing to say of a murder VICTIM, especially so soon after the murder.

We're all not perfect, for sure, but when someone is killed, usually people don't point to the victim's faults...unless they were hints to his final demise?

jmopinion

 

[RickshawFan]

sex, religion and money, the three motivators for murder in any country, among any community... I wonder if she speaks Portugese? that's the official language, among 46 or somewhere around that number of other languages... mostly of Bantu origin... Her charges will all be in Portugese, and she will be assigned a Portugese speaking advocate.... There is not much the US Embassy can do for her, except politely and diplomatically direct someone to visit her, take clean clothing , etc.. the Embassy cannot interfere with the judicial process...

Yes, I was thinking that would be the role of the embassy. I think maybe a staffer would visit her, too.

If she doesn’t speak Portuguese yet, she might want to get some tutoring from fellow inmates asap.

 

[Ontario Mom]

sex, religion and money, the three motivators for murder in any country, among any community...

I'm curious where you get that info from? I've followed true crime for 50+ years and don't ever recall religion (aside from "honor killings" in a certain demographic) being among the top 3 motives for murder.

 

[starlightstarbright]

I saw this article today and a photo of Beau that I don’t think I’ve seen before.

Final Facebook post of Minnesota missionary 'murdered by his wife'

Beau Shroyer, 44, appeared in good spirits as he wrote about making a connection with an Angolan student en route to his ministry project on October 24.

www.dailymail.co.uk

He’s at a barber shop and says he’s having his first haircut in Angola. This is from the 15th of October.

It just struck me as strange that this is his first haircut (by someone outside the family, presumably) since they moved there 3 years ago. Now maybe it’s just a nice story for social media because the barber is someone they supported in their mission work (and it’s not really his first trip out to the barber in 3 years).

But as someone who has worked in similar environs for NGOs both in Southern African and in Asia, they seem really poorly integrated. They only seem to leave the compound for really ‘easy’ things. Going to a restaurant or hotel or travel home or to the mall to see the shoeshine boys. These are the sorts of encounters you have when you are more tourist than resident.

JMO but they feel poorly integrated into the community and my guess is that there was a lot of stress. It can be very stressful and isolating living in these situations as an ‘expat’. Just in my own experience, I’ve seen it push a lot of people to their limits psychologically and in terms of substance abuse. Not saying that’s what’s happened here, but I agree with others that the social media presence gives an uneasy feeling, not of people happy and comfortable where they were.

 

[adot0902]

I saw this article today and a photo of Beau that I don’t think I’ve seen before.

Final Facebook post of Minnesota missionary 'murdered by his wife'

Beau Shroyer, 44, appeared in good spirits as he wrote about making a connection with an Angolan student en route to his ministry project on October 24.

www.dailymail.co.uk

He’s at a barber shop and says he’s having his first haircut in Angola. This is from the 15th of October.

It just struck me as strange that this is his first haircut (by someone outside the family, presumably) since they moved there 3 years ago. Now maybe it’s just a nice story for social media because the barber is someone they supported in their mission work (and it’s not really his first trip out to the barber in 3 years).

But as someone who has worked in similar environs for NGOs both in Southern African and in Asia, they seem really poorly integrated. They only seem to leave the compound for really ‘easy’ things. Going to a restaurant or hotel or travel home or to the mall to see the shoeshine boys. These are the sorts of encounters you have when you are more tourist than resident.

JMO but they feel poorly integrated into the community and my guess is that there was a lot of stress. It can be very stressful and isolating living in these situations as an ‘expat’. Just in my own experience, I’ve seen it push a lot of people to their limits psychologically and in terms of substance abuse. Not saying that’s what’s happened here, but I agree with others that the social media presence gives an uneasy feeling, not of people happy and comfortable where they were.

You said everything so eloquently... But yes to all of this. I really am confused as to what they were actually DOING in Angola? Like very confused. Like you said they seem to have ZERO relationship with the people other than the shoe shine kids, even the "Soup" dinner once a week was odd. On her IG she talks about Beau having to take daughter to hospital, and the neighbors had to make sure no one acted out in line?? If you were doing this for 3 years and it's not a large amount of people then how in the world do they not know the drill of Soup night.

Also Lubango is gorgeous, where is this bush with no electricity, toilets or running water they are supposedly living in... I haven't seen it in any of her pictures. The home definitely has electricity and running water. I didn't see toilets but it's a nice place, not a hut in the jungle.

 

[sasha17]

I feel awful for their children. Not only for the tragic loss of their dad and the awful crime (allegedly) perpetrated by their mom but for all they've gone through in the last three years. Relocating to an entirely new country they weren't used to, having malaria multiple times, various other sicknesses, hospitalization, needing shots to treat these illnesses, living in danger with armed guards, having their home broken into in the night time multiple times, and whatever else we haven't heard about. What a traumatic time.

 

[Cedars]

sex, religion and money, the three motivators for murder in any country, among any community...

I think those are more typical motivations for men. For women, I've more often seen motivations involving domestic abuse, custody issues, and mental health problems.

JMO

 

[Chimera]

Wondering when there will be an update ?

 

[scapa]

Oh gosh, yes, I finally looked at her Instagram. Very glossy, love that word here! I was feeling some serious white savior syndrome. I’m really cynical, though, so that could definitely be unfair of me! MOO

Not unfair at all -- my impression also.

There are real and serious risks in the ceding of control in a move overseas -- financial, linguistic, political, familial, etc -- for someone who is used to a fair degree of control over environments. It can be profoundly alienating (source: various locums over the years). I generally went with the flow and tried to help where I could within specific remits, feeling that systemic change was beyond the grasp of a temporary resident, however much it might seem required.

I do not understand the "missionary abroad" impulse in today's world, but I am not a religiously affiliated person.

 

[Chimera]

A little bit more about their church organization :

Cross Cultural Missions | Advancing the Gospel | SIM USA

SIM USA has over a century of experience in cross-cultural missions to help guide you in taking your next right step. Contact SIM USA about missionary work.

www.simusa.org