JAMAICA | Accused confess to killing church member, Pastor claimed he was God

KINGSTON,  November 4, 2021 - The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Paula Llewellyn yesterday opened the state’s case in the Supreme Court against Andre Ruddock, the man accused of killing one of two people whose throats were slit at  the Kevin Smith led  Pathways International Kingdom Restoration Ministries church on October 17, in what is believed to have been a bizarre human sacrifice ritual.

Ruddock is charged the murder of Tanika Gardener, a fellow member of the church whose throat was slit as part of the recent cultist human sacrifice at the church.

The allegations by the DPP were outlined  to the court in a document made available to the media. The following is the full text of the DPP’s Allegations:

1. The Pathways International Church is located at 144 Albion Street, Montego Bay in the parish of St. James. Dr Kevin O. Smith purported to be trained in Technical PsychoTherapy and was the Leader/Pastor of this organisation up to the time of his demise.

2. The deceased, Tanika Gardener, was introduced by her aunt to the church when it was located at its previous address.

3. The accused, Andre Ruddock, was employed by Dr Smith to take care of his animals including seventeen goats and three cows and to perform other jobs around the church.

4. According to witness accounts, Dr Smith was addressed by the titles “His Excellency”, “Daddy” or “Father.” He later asked to be addressed as “His Majesty” because he was the king.

5. In the initial days of its establishment, the church operated like an ordinary church for most members with marriages, baptisms, sowing of seeds and deliverance ministries being the norm. The members of the church claim that Dr Smith would prophesy or get a vision about people's deaths.

6. One witness alleges that approximately two (2) weeks prior to the incident, Dr Smith began to act strange, and changed what he taught in the church. Dr Smith said that Selassie I was God and told his congregants that they could listen to secular music from persons such as Sizzla, Capleton, Buju Banton, Beenie Man, Queen Ifrica and others. Dr Smith also told his congregants that they could smoke weed (ganja) because it can carry them to a higher level of consciousness.

7. It is alleged that if Dr Smith wanted a donation from the church and he believed that a particular member had money and did not want to give it to him, he would say that the member would crash and die, and he would send out his wrath on that member and his/her family. Dr Smith would allegedly use threatening terminology to get the money, and his method was described as dictatorial.

8. If a particular member and his/her family wanted to proceed on vacation, the member would have to seek permission from Dr Smith. Dr Smith said that without his covering, the member and his/her family would not pass through Immigration.

9. The church had a Facebook page, where Dr Smith would post information in relation to the church and communicate with his congregants.

10. On October 12, 2021, Dr Smith said that the persons in the church who took the vaccine will be singled out and put out of the church. Dr Smith did not believe in the vaccine and said it was the mark of the beast. He further said that anyone who took the vaccine had no share and part with God and would be cut off from the light. October 15, 2021 (Two days before the incident)

11. On Friday, October 15, 2021, a post was made on the church's Facebook page informing persons to attend the church to update their membership.

12. There was also a Facebook post made on October 15, 2021, informing the congregants to attend the church on October 16, 2021, so that he could speak with them. October 16, 2021 (The day before the incident)

13. On Saturday, October 16, 2021, members gathered at the church, dressed in white as they were ordered to do by Dr Smith. At about 6:00 p.m. Dr Smith told them that before entering the church they should bow down on their knees and he will judge them and write their names in the “Lamb's Book of Life”. He also instructed them to cover their heads with something white, as he did not want anyone to look on his glory. This “service” continued until about 1:00 a.m. on Sunday, October 17, 2021. October 17, 2021 (Day of Incident)

14. On Sunday, October 17, 2021, Witness A and the accused Andre Ruddock went to feed Dr Smith's animals. At about 9:00 a.m. Dr Smith ordered the members to throw away all sodas and fill the bottles with water, as well as to throw away all canned food.

15. At about 2:35 p.m. Witness A observed when Dr Smith allegedly arrived at the church in the company of now deceased Kevaughn Palmer and a police officer. The church was the scene of the crime. Dr Smith allegedly shouted that he was, “God in the flesh, come in the ark before it closes”. He referred to the church as the “Ark”.

16. Witness A indicates that Dr. Smith told the members to throw away all tissue, wipes and soap. While disposing of the items a bottle of wine broke. Approximately twenty (20) minutes later, Dr Smith told the now deceased Kevaughn Palmer that whoever was in front of the wine, he (Palmer) should cut that person's throat so that they can enter into the kingdom. Dr Smith instructed the now deceased Kevaughn Palmer to cut the throat of Witness A and other persons. Witness A said he went to the 'safe side'.

17. Dr Smith told Witness B that in order for him to enter into the kingdom, the now deceased Kevaughn Palmer would have to cut his throat. Witness B knelt down in front of Dr Smith and handed the knife to the now deceased Kevaughn Palmer. Witness B subsequently ran outside along with another person. The now deceased Kevaughn Palmer chased Witness B and the other person and stabbed them in their backs.

18. At this juncture the other members of the church lay down on the ground and covered themselves. Dr Smith then began to destroy the glass on the altar, the window and other items.

19. Sometime after, Dr Smith gave a knife to Witness A and told him that he was Michael the Arch Angel. Dr Smith also gave the accused Andre Ruddock a knife and told him that he (Ruddock) was the Arch Angel Gabriel.

20. Michael Brown (now deceased) was a member of the church at the time of his demise, who was suffering from a health issue which resulted in tubes being attached to his body. Dr Smith told the now deceased Michael Brown “You have to die, but you will rise again because I am the resurrection and the light”. Thereafter, Dr Smith pulled the tubes from Mr Brown who then bled to death. Dr Smith told Witness A and the accused Andre Ruddock to leave Mr Brown to die.

21. While the members were gathered outside the church they chanted, “Yeshua, Yeshua!”      Dr. Smith said, “a who dat”. Thereafter, Dr Smith called the names of persons from a list that he had in his hand. The persons whose names were called were allowed to enter the church building (the “Ark”). These persons signed “999” beside their names and thereafter Dr. Smith signed “999” beside their names.

22. When the now deceased Tanika Gardener arrived at the gate, she asked a little boy to assist her. The little boy then said, “pastor she have luggage”. Dr. Smith asked Ms Gardener “Is your blood clean?”. He also asked her about a particular health issue from which she was suffering at the time.

23. Dr Smith asked Ms Gardener “Do you believe that I am the resurrection and the life?”. Ms Gardener said “Yes”. Dr Smith then asked her “Do you believe I can raise you from the dead?”. Ms Gardener replied “Yes”. Dr. Smith responded, “Your blood have [sic] to be cleansed. I will have to cut your throat” and Ms Gardener said “Yes”.

24. Dr. Smith instructed Witness A to cut Ms. Gardener's throat; Witness A said no. The accused Andre Ruddock walked to where Ms. Gardener was located. When the accused Andre Ruddock got to where Ms Gardener was located, she knelt down before him. At this point, the accused Andre Ruddock used a knife to cut Ms Gardener's throat. It is said that the deceased Tanika Gardener did not make a sound or scream, but Witness B heard a gargling sound.

25. Witness B indicates that Dr Smith told the accused Andre Ruddock to cut Ms Gardener's head right off, she is a goat, she has to die, she is a sacrifice. The accused did not cut off Ms Gardener's head.

26. The police stormed the premises of the church, and after this, shots were fired from inside the church. The police officers took evasive action and returned fire. The now deceased Kevaughn Palmer advanced towards the police officers, armed with a machete.

27. When the firing of the shots ceased, and the police were able to enter the church, the bodies of three (3) deceased persons were discovered; Tanika Gardener, Michael Brown and Kevaughn Palmer. Arrest

28. The members of the church who were present at the scene including Andre Ruddock, were escorted to the police station.

29. On Monday, October 18, 2021, the accused Andre Ruddock gave a Caution Statement in the presence of two (2) Justices of the Peace for the parish of St. James. Court Proceedings

30. The accused Andre Ruddock was placed before the Home Circuit on Wednesday, October 27, 2021, after the Director of Public Prosecutions proffered a Voluntary Bill of Indictment. The accused Mr Ruddock indicated that he was unable to afford the services of an Attorney-at-law. As such, the matter was adjourned until Wednesday, November 3, 2021, to allow Senior Counsel to be assigned to him by the Legal Aid Council.

31. On Wednesday, November 3, 2021, the accused Mr Andre Ruddock was placed before the Home Circuit Court. Counsel Mr Anthony Williams indicated that he has been assigned by the Legal Aid Council to appear on behalf of Mr Ruddock. Counsel Ms Venice Brown also appears with Mr Williams in the matter.

32. The Court having heard the allegations, on the recommendation of the Director of Public Prosecutions,  Ruddock, who has confessed to killing Pathways member Tanika Gardener on Smith's command, was ordered by the judge to undergo a psychiatric evaluation and to return to court on December 7 when outstanding evidence, such as post-mortem reports, should be ready, ordered a Psychiatric Evaluation for Mr Ruddock. The matter was thereafter adjourned until Tuesday, December 7, 2021.

The disgraced pastor died in a motor vehicle crash on the Linstead bypass in St Catherine on the morning of Monday October 25, while being transported from Montego Bay to Kingston to be charged with two counts of murder, two counts of wounding with intent, and illegal possession of a firearm.

A Police Constable, Orlando Irons who was travelling in the same vehicle with Smith, also died in the crash while two of his colleagues were injured while Ruddock who was being transported in the same convoy but was in another vehicle sufferred no injuries. He was charged the same day, and arrained in the Supreme Court on Wednesday November 3.