Former northwestern Minnesota resident Jackie Shroyer has been formally charged as a “co-author” of the Oct. 25 murder of her husband, former Detroit Lakes police officer and missionary Beau Shroyer, which occurred while he and his family were serving as missionaries in the African nation of Angola.

According to a statement from Lakes Area Vineyard Church Lead Pastor Troy M. Easton, “I made the commitment that I would update you on any news regarding the investigation around Beau Shroyer’s death,” he posted on the church’s website Monday.

“It saddens me immensely to have to share with you that we were notified that Jackie has been formally charged as a co-author in the murder of her husband. As a result of formal charges, it is our understanding that she will remain in custody and be tried before a judge,” Easton wrote.

Several young Angolan men, all with criminal records of armed robbery and kidnapping, have also been accused in the case, according to the Angolan federal Criminal Investigation Service.

The court date for Jackie Shroyer has not yet been set, but will likely occur within the next six months, Easton added. “Beau and Jackie’s children will continue to be cared for by close family with support from both SIM (the global missionary group the Shroyers were working with) and Lakes Area Vineyard Church,” he said.

Because of the ongoing judicial process, Easton said, “we will not be able to comment any further at this time. I’m so very sorry. Please continue to cling to the Lord and His unchanging character, nature and love and continue to pray for truth to be clear, for justice to be served and for God’s kingdom to come and will to be done.”

In a Nov. 7 article by the Angolan Press Agency, the CIS alleges that Jackie Shroyer, 44, was the “mastermind” behind the murder, which allegedly occurred after Beau Shroyer, also 44, was lured to a remote area by the suspects, who feigned vehicle failure, then stabbed him while his wife was away from the scene.

The story implies that Jackie Shroyer was only pretending to be distraught when police arrived at the scene, and that she failed to appear in Lubango “for ‘alleged’ health reasons” when the other suspects were presented.

The motive for the slaying, according to the SIC investigator Manuel Halaiwa, was “strong suspicions of a romantic relationship” with the security guard who has been charged, and “a presumed intention of the wife not wanting to leave Angola when her husband’s mission had ended.”

Jackie Shroyer supposedly had $50,000 to pay for the killing; Halaiwa said the evidence includes the vehicle used to commit the crime, the murder weapon (a knife from the United States that Beau Shroyer had allegedly offered to the security guard) and 4.5 million kwanzas (about $5,000) that were seized.

Jackie Shroyer was being held in preventive detention on a judge’s order.

In a Dec. 21 post on a GoFundMe page established by Beau Shroyer’s family:

“We held a beautiful memorial service for Beau on Nov. 30, where we prayed and shared our favorite Beau stories.

“Beau’s body departed Angola, Africa on Dec. 11, aboard an AirFrance flight. His connecting flight from Paris, France to Minneapolis was canceled, and he landed back in the US on Dec. 14. Customs was not open, so our funeral director was not able to take him into his care until Dec. 16.

“Initially, we had planned his interment for Dec. 14, but due to the delays, we had to reschedule to today, Dec. 21.

“Beau was laid to rest during a short, but meaningful graveside service surrounded by his family. We feel so blessed to have him ‘home,’ where we’ll be able to visit him when we need that comfort. Thank you again for your support.

“Lastly, if you knew Beau, we hope you’ll find humor in the fact that he was literally late to his own funeral! There’s no doubt he’d have had a good laugh about it!”