A disturbing incident has come to light involving a youth pastor from Gowensville Baptist Church in Landrum, South Carolina, Your Content has learned.
Daniel Kellan Mayfield, 35, who had served as the church’s youth pastor since 2016, was recently arrested in Boiling Springs on charges related to secretly filming women and girls as young as 14. The shocking discovery has left the community devastated.
According to deputies from the Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office, Mayfield confessed to recording a woman while she was showering at her mother’s residence on May 27.
The woman and her sister made the disturbing discovery when they found Mayfield alone in the backyard after noticing a suspicious light outside the bathroom window.
Further investigation revealed that Mayfield had targeted at least five additional victims, some of whom were filmed in the church’s bathroom.
The incidents date back to July 2022, with girls as young as 14 being subjected to his voyeuristic acts.
Members of Gowensville Baptist Church expressed their deep shock and concern. Isabella Godfry, a church member, shared, “You would never think someone you know—that’s like a family, because that’s what our church is, it’s like a family—you would never think something so devastating would happen in that little circle of people.”
Benjamin Green, another church member, voiced his worries, saying, “I’m concerned about my wife and my daughters being on that camera.”
The church administration took immediate action upon learning of Mayfield’s misconduct.
First Baptist Gowensville confirmed that Mayfield was a student pastor at the church but was promptly terminated following his arrest.
The magistrate denied him bond, and he is scheduled to appear in court again within the next 30 days.
Authorities believe that Mayfield acted alone and that the church leadership was unaware of his illicit activities.
In a statement, the church said, “On May 27, 2023, First Baptist Gowensville leadership was made aware of an incident of moral misconduct perpetrated by one of our staff members.
Proper authorities were notified immediately, and the employee was terminated from his role.
Due to the nature of the investigation, FBC Gowensville refers all questions to the law enforcement authorities involved.”
The church emphasized its commitment to providing a safe worship environment and ensuring the protection of all individuals involved in its events.
Kent Smith, an associate pastor at First Baptist Gowensville, expressed the congregation’s shock and shared that all ties with Mayfield were severed as soon as the allegations came to light.
“I don’t know him as well as everyone else that has been here for years, but that’s it. [Shock]. When you know somebody for years like that, that’s the reaction people have,” Smith stated.
The community continues to grapple with the distressing revelations, emphasizing the importance of ensuring the safety and well-being of all members, particularly the vulnerable, within religious institutions, according to FOX.
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