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

[RickshawFan]

In an earlier post, I commented many of Jackie's IG posts have a distinct self-aggrandizing tone to them. The linked post you point too is one of them.

Meet one of our two guards, Rafael. It is not typical here to treat guards like family but we just couldn't help but love them and bring them into our fun. We have been to their homes and met their families and make sure that they are all well taken care of. Because that's what Jesus would do.

Today Rafael asked to take a picture with our kids, holding his dinner we gave him. We printed it out for him and he was so overjoyed as he showed everyone who walked by. "This is my American white family!"

You couldn’t get more saccharine than this, cloying, superficial, self-involved. The self-thrill in the last paragraph, with the nod to racial status, makes me want to…..

And the idea that they treat their guards better than others do, because they think of them like family….and their god would approve of them doing this….IMO that’s the path towards manipulating a local into killing your husband with the knife your husband presented the local as a gift. You can love your employees and treat them well without creating murky boundaries or claiming your method is better than everyone else’s.

 

[TTF14]

You couldn’t get more saccharine than this, cloying, superficial, self-involved. The self-thrill in the last paragraph, with the nod to racial status, makes me want to…..

And the idea that they treat their guards better than others do, because they think of them like family….and their god would approve of them doing this….IMO that’s the path towards manipulating a local into killing your husband with the knife your husband presented the local as a gift. You can love your employees and treat them well without creating murky boundaries or claiming your method is better than everyone else’s.

Could not agree more! So much of that was offensive. Ick.

 

[Cryptic]

You can love your employees and treat them well without creating murky boundaries or claiming your method is better than everyone else’s.

I agree fully.

That balance, however, often takes managerial experience. And... with domestic employees, even experienced managers may have trouble keeping that balance.

I doubt the couple had managerial experience either as missionaries or anything else. Likewise, unlike say, the Diplomatic Service, Peace Corps etc. which could offer training on "household staff dos and donts", I am guessing this couple had no real guidance going in.

 

[Trooper]

You couldn’t get more saccharine than this, cloying, superficial, self-involved. The self-thrill in the last paragraph, with the nod to racial status, makes me want to…..

And the idea that they treat their guards better than others do, because they think of them like family….and their god would approve of them doing this….IMO that’s the path towards manipulating a local into killing your husband with the knife your husband presented the local as a gift. You can love your employees and treat them well without creating murky boundaries or claiming your method is better than everyone else’s.

I simply do not believe this Rafael said such a thing. I think it's a whole fully formed construct of Jackie to placate some demographic back home in Minnesota.. She is writing nonsense to appeal to a cohort so far removed from reality in Angola, she knows no one will check her claim. Jackie appeared to be living in the grip of some fierce fantasy, reality seemed far removed from her critical faculties... as if she was a sort of Scarlett O'Hara , swanning around Tara, looking for 'lurrve'...

The 5 kids must have seen all this blithering, the ghastliness of it all...

 

[cujenn81]

I simply do not believe this Rafael said such a thing. I think it's a whole fully formed construct of Jackie to placate some demographic back home in Minnesota.. She is writing nonsense to appeal to a cohort so far removed from reality in Angola, she knows no one will check her claim. Jackie appeared to be living in the grip of some fierce fantasy, reality seemed far removed from her critical faculties... as if she was a sort of Scarlett O'Hara , swanning around Tara, looking for 'lurrve'...

The 5 kids must have seen all this blithering, the ghastliness of it all...

Exactly. As I think someone already mentioned upthread, Jackie’s lengthy contrived narratives sound way too much like those of Jen Hart — another self-aggrandizing “white savior” — who drove her entire family off a cliff. Google ‘Jen Hart Facebook’ and you’ll see what I’m talking about.

 

[Trooper]

Seems the family of Beau are struggling with the State Dept...

"Our family has received alarmingly little official information surrounding Beau's death, the investigation, and legal proceedings," said Beau's sister, Marina Roering. "We've had to rely on only two sources of information, both who seem to have an interest in keeping Beau's story as quiet as possible."

( why would Marina be under this impression that she is being kept in the dark? _ _ )

'Roering says the State Department has stated to the media that they've been in touch with Beau's family, but she says that's not true.

"That contact consisted of a phone call to my dad, over a week after Beau's death, where he received the name, contact info, and office hours of the person he spoke to, a 24 hour phone number, and the name and phone number of the lead investigator. All phone numbers are international, and the lead investigator only speaks Portuguese."

She says they have had to learn the details of Beau's murder by translating news articles published in Angola.

"This is beyond frustrating, and we truly don't know where to turn for answers."

Roering has since set up a <modnote - fundraising> page to help with legal fees as the family navigates this challenging journey.
Sister of missionary killed in Angola wants answers, launches fundraiser to support family

Sister of missionary killed in Angola wants answers, launches fundraiser to support family

 

[cujenn81]

Seems the family of Beau are struggling with the State Dept...

"Our family has received alarmingly little official information surrounding Beau's death, the investigation, and legal proceedings," said Beau's sister, Marina Roering. "We've had to rely on only two sources of information, both who seem to have an interest in keeping Beau's story as quiet as possible."

( why would Marina be under this impression that she is being kept in the dark? _ _ )

'Roering says the State Department has stated to the media that they've been in touch with Beau's family, but she says that's not true.

"That contact consisted of a phone call to my dad, over a week after Beau's death, where he received the name, contact info, and office hours of the person he spoke to, a 24 hour phone number, and the name and phone number of the lead investigator. All phone numbers are international, and the lead investigator only speaks Portuguese."

She says they have had to learn the details of Beau's murder by translating news articles published in Angola.

"This is beyond frustrating, and we truly don't know where to turn for answers."

Roering has since set up a page to help with legal fees as the family navigates this challenging journey.
Sister of missionary killed in Angola wants answers, launches fundraiser to support family

Well that’s just sad.

 

[starlightstarbright]

I really feel for Beau’s family (even though I may still be a bit dubious about the story that’s being sold). They don’t seem well supported. You think that SIM with its links in the US and Portuguese speaking folks on the ground in country would take a lead advocating for them and Beau, but seems not. I hope they keep being a squeaky wheel to the embassy.

 

[Trooper]

'''All phone numbers are international, and the lead investigator only speaks Portuguese."...... inconvenient, who'd have thunk it would be that way?? ..

 

[Trooper]

I really feel for Beau’s family (even though I may still be a bit dubious about the story that’s being sold). They don’t seem well supported. You think that SIM with its links in the US and Portuguese speaking folks on the ground in country would take a lead advocating for them and Beau, but seems not. I hope they keep being a squeaky wheel to the embassy.

I would have thought that SIM would cough up for the body transportation back to Minnesota and the college fund for the kids.. he was their employee...making them dither around with a go fund me, FOR A BURIAL!!... strange stuff, to me

 

[RickshawFan]

I agree fully.

That balance, however, often takes managerial experience. And... with domestic employees, even experienced managers may have trouble keeping that balance.

I doubt the couple had managerial experience either as missionaries or anything else. Likewise, unlike say, the Diplomatic Service, Peace Corps etc. which could offer training on "household staff dos and donts", I am guessing this couple had no real guidance going in.

I agree. It is clear, though, that the Shroyers knew it was not customary to mingle and establish personal relationships with site staff. This much is known from the IG post.
And guards are staff on the outer perimeter of the living space (i.e. at the gate to the outside), not inside folks. It would be a big leap to make them familial, IMO, unlike, say, for a nanny, who would be at the most inner perimeter.

 

[RickshawFan]

Exactly. As I think someone already mentioned upthread, Jackie’s lengthy contrived narratives sound way too much like those of Jen Hart — another self-aggrandizing “white savior” — who drove her entire family off a cliff. Google ‘Jen Hart Facebook’ and you’ll see what I’m talking about.

Yes, the Facebook presentation of Jen Hart.

But this whole saga also strikes me as an echo of Jared Bridegan's case, from the ambush down to who ended up with the kids. Maybe Jackie even got the idea from that case, and thought she could pull it off a far remove from the US. I'll bet she neither considered the Angolans would investigate, nor that there would be an FBI agent at the US Embassy. Actually, at the moment, the embassy is likely TEEMING with FBI agents because of the upcoming visit of the chief pooh bah of the US.

 

[RickshawFan]

Seems the family of Beau are struggling with the State Dept...

"Our family has received alarmingly little official information surrounding Beau's death, the investigation, and legal proceedings," said Beau's sister, Marina Roering. "We've had to rely on only two sources of information, both who seem to have an interest in keeping Beau's story as quiet as possible."

( why would Marina be under this impression that she is being kept in the dark? _ _ )

'Roering says the State Department has stated to the media that they've been in touch with Beau's family, but she says that's not true.

"That contact consisted of a phone call to my dad, over a week after Beau's death, where he received the name, contact info, and office hours of the person he spoke to, a 24 hour phone number, and the name and phone number of the lead investigator. All phone numbers are international, and the lead investigator only speaks Portuguese."

She says they have had to learn the details of Beau's murder by translating news articles published in Angola.

"This is beyond frustrating, and we truly don't know where to turn for answers."

Roering has since set up a page to help with legal fees as the family navigates this challenging journey.

Sister of missionary killed in Angola wants answers, launches fundraiser to support family

Nothing seems very strange about this, and they have the requisite contact info, provided by the State Department. This is an Angolan judicial case, not an American one. And yes, every country has its specific phone code. Angola does not use the US phone system, nor does any other country.

SIM should be helping them out with a translator. But I'm sure they could also get one from the University of MInnesota or somewhere like that. Perhaps St Cloud State U or North Dakota U just across the border in Fargo. I feel confident they can find someone helpful.

She could also reach out to the Angolan Embassy in DC. I have a feeling they'd be gracious, and may even be willing to translate.

I'm guessing legal fees would be needed to address custody of the children. It seems very odd to me that they're in the custody of Jackie's mother and not Beau's family. This might also be at the root of the sister's complaints. I feel for them. This must be awful.

 

[RickshawFan]

I would have thought that SIM would cough up for the body transportation back to Minnesota and the college fund for the kids.. he was their employee...making them dither around with a go fund me, FOR A BURIAL!!... strange stuff, to me

Yes, I don't get this, either. But these organizations rake in a lot of money, as do "volunteer organizations" that offer gap year experience or attract American youngsters. I know of one organization that 15 years ago charged $5k for a one-year stint in Namibia, living in a room of a family's house, with a latrine in the back yard. No obvious actual volunteer work of any substance. There's no regulation of these companies, and they are lucrative for the CEO's. IME.

 

[RickshawFan]

I really feel for Beau’s family (even though I may still be a bit dubious about the story that’s being sold). They don’t seem well supported. You think that SIM with its links in the US and Portuguese speaking folks on the ground in country would take a lead advocating for them and Beau, but seems not. I hope they keep being a squeaky wheel to the embassy.

IMO the embassy is not the issue. It's an Angolan case, subject to Angolan law.

 

[Kemug]

The kids probably have Jackie's mother with them because they know her best. Plus it seems that Beau's family was pretty dysfunctional, and maybe still is.

 

[RickshawFan]

The kids probably have Jackie's mother with them because they know her best. Plus it seems that Beau's family was pretty dysfunctional, and maybe still is.

It seems like the family unit was dysfunctional, but maybe that didn't extend to the brother and sister?

 

[Knox]

This makes me so uncomfortable reading this. It’s just so cringey white saviour. MOO

A simple description of who Rafael is, with a expression of thankfulness in what he does for their family, would have been enough. All the extraneous details were just so unnecessary - JMO.

 

[Knox]

I agree fully.

That balance, however, often takes managerial experience. And... with domestic employees, even experienced managers may have trouble keeping that balance.

I doubt the couple had managerial experience either as missionaries or anything else. Likewise, unlike say, the Diplomatic Service, Peace Corps etc. which could offer training on "household staff dos and donts", I am guessing this couple had no real guidance going in.

Beau was a police officer for seven years, surely he understood boundaries.

 

[Trooper]

A simple description of who Rafael is, with a expression of thankfulness in what he does for their family, would have been enough. All the extraneous details were just so unnecessary - JMO.

Well.. you wouldn't hear any Norwegian Bachelors talking like this, would you? .. I mean... !!

( this is for the Prairie Home Companion affficionado's.. )