North Carolina evangelical pastor & founder of a christian non-profit, Larry Wilkins, has been arrested for raping children.
Wilkins had his first court appearance Tuesday. His next scheduled court date is July 10. A 2020 profile in The Stanly News & Press on Wilkins shared how he changed paths in 2017 from a pastor of a nondenominational church in Albemarle to working as a lead counselor at Bridge to Recovery’s treatment program in Monroe. While there he created the nonprofit Gateway of Hope Addiction Recovery Center. Through Gateway of Hope he opened two sober houses in Locust.
In another news, The shooting happened at Sycamore Lake Apartments on Monday, March 10. Investigators believe Larry Wilkins, 37, was contacted by someone who expressed interest in buying his 2006 Ford Mustang that was listed on Craigslist. When he met the caller, Wilkins was shot and his car was stolen. He was pronounced dead on the scene.
According to the online post, Wilkins was asking $5,000 for the car.
According to an affidavit of complaint, Vance told investigators that he and two other people planned to meet Wilkins and steal his car. Vance set up the meeting with Wilkins by talking to him and texting him with a cell phone. Vance told police he was supposed to distract Wilkins while the other two people involved took the car. He admitted to running from the scene after Wilkins was shot.
