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Calls into the 911 Newport Arkansas Dispatch describe what happened with a pastor’s wife during church.

Dispatch: (Phone rings) "911 Emergency Services."

Caller: "I'm up here at the Pentecostal Church on Dill Street behind USA Drugs. There's a woman up here who’s got a gun."

Dispatch: "A gun...all right, we'll send an officer."

And with that, Newport police arrived at the Pentecostal Church of God for what was anything but your typical church service.

Church member Buddy Sherman explains, "We were all right here [pointing to the front pew]. Our pastor stood back there [pointing to the pulpit] and she was standing right here [pointing to the front of the pews]. She never intended any harm on nobody."

That's how Sherman describes Pastor Larry Estes' wife, 44-year-old Tammy Estes.

According to Sherman, Tammy stood up, with a .357 magnum in her hand and confronted her husband.

“She wanted the truth to get out, what she thought was the truth," he says.

Newport Police Chief Michael Scudder says, “It's one of the most powerful handguns in the world. Of course, it got our attention and we were hoping she wouldn't use it."

According to some witnesses, it wasn't a hostage situation at all.

While, 60 or so church members were making their way out, some stayed behind on their own will to comfort Tammy.

Sherman continues, “She never intended to use it. She told us she loved us and she just had some things she wanted heard."

The incident stems from several text messages on the pastor's cell phone received from one young female church member. During the entire time, church members say they weren't concerned for their safety.

Longtime church member Brenda Wilson says, “She used her [gun] last night as a security blanket for herself. She had it in her hand, she never held us up."

Now, Estes remains behind bars awaiting a mental evaluation. Church members say they stand behind the couple.

Wilson says, “They’re our pastor and we love them, both of them. And whatever problems they've got, we've all got our own problems too and they're no different than we are."

Tammy Estes has been charged with aggravated assault. Her bond is set at $2,500.

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Blogger SpaceMonk said...
Geez. If that's how she reacts when she finds out her husband isn't what she thinks he is, imagine how she'll feel finding out her god isn't what she thinks he is either?

Then again, maybe it'll be a relief for her, and she'll be able to get her head/life back together?


Anonymous Michelle Mybell said...
“They’re our pastor and we love them, both of them. And whatever problems they've got, we've all got our own problems too and they're no different than we are."

I guess that means they would also pull out a gun during church service to "discuss" their problems with their mate. They didn't bat an eye about the appearance of the gun! What planet are these people living on?

Michelle Mybell


Blogger Acid said...
Surely there's an island somewhere where we can drop all these fruitcakes off and let them fight over doctrinal differences until there's only one tribe of Christians remaining, right?

I mean, honestly... their sense of right and wrong is so skewed as to be completely out of touch with reality.

After reading so very many stories like this, I think religion should be classified as a mental illness.


Anonymous Anonymous said...
Truth about WHAT? I hate articles that never explain what the heck is going on.

Nothing says lovin' like a .357 Magnum brought into an argument. Divorce papers might be a safer option here.


Anonymous Doc said...
This is America! What is the rest of society doing. It's a cultural thing.


Anonymous infidel666 said...
Very interesting situation and article. I would love to see how this mess pans out. We should support them by sending e-mails saying "Don't worry, be happy, it's God's will". LMAO


Blogger emptycan said...
Michelle Mybell siad: "I guess that means they would also pull out a gun during church service to "discuss" their problems with their mate. They didn't bat an eye about the appearance of the gun! What planet are these people living on?"



I guess they are living in the planet called "HEAVEN." They are so hevenly people with so biblically threatening guns.

Almost same story is written in the heavenly bible. "I love you to death, but if you don't believe me as your god, I'm gonna kill you, kill you, and kill you with the ETERNAL pains of hell."

Maybe the only difference between the heavenly wife and the bible is the types of weapons:

gunfire or hellfire...


Anonymous Anonymous said...
Wilson says, “They’re our pastor and we love them, both of them. And whatever problems they've got, we've all got our own problems too and they're no different than we are."


They are so mesmerized by Jesus,they have no idea where they are at.

If she had emptied the gun on that cretin, they would have rejoiced and said, he's going to Heaven to be with Jesus.

Next, pass the koolade!!!!


Blogger Deamond said...
When Musklims do it it's terroriem, but when Christians do it "She told us she loved us and she just had some things she wanted heard."

I think belief in the Afterlife seems to give people a kind of reverse morality, where they think they're doing innocent children a favour by "sending them to heaven" but thinking and questioning is looked upon as a vice rather than an atribute.


Blogger Onanite said...
I hate text messaging too but being the a moral atheist I am I don't own a gun. Oh well.


Blogger .:webmaster:. said...
THE PLOT THICKENS:

State Police Commander Remembers Newport Woman as "Person of Interest" in Suspicious 1992 Death


NEWPORT, AR -- A Jackson County woman is still behind bars today after being arrested at a Newport church Sunday night. Tammy Estes, the wife of pastor Larry Estes of the Newport Pentecostal Church of God, pulled a gun on her husband during Sunday night's service. Members of the church say Tammy Estes was upset over so-called inappropriate text messages that her husband had allegedly sent to two members of the church's youth group.

As Estes sits in the Jackson County Detention Center charged with aggravated assault, incidents from her past have started to surface. On October 7, 1992, her then husband, Jeffrey Catt of Floral (Independence Co.) was found dead inside their burned home. Colonel Steve Dozier, now head of the Arkansas State Police, investigated the case years ago, but seems to remember it very well.

"During the course of the investigation, we learned that Jeffrey Catt had probably died prior to the fire and gave the suspicion that he had in fact been murdered and maybe the fire had been set to cover that," said Dozier.

Dozier says that Tammy Estes was questioned in the murder investigation.

"We pursued several leads, one of which was some domestic issues, circumstantial leads concerning his estranged wife at the time, Tammy," Dozier said.

Col. Dozier did say that investigators were never able to collect enough evidence to charge anyone and the case has remained open all these years. Dozier also mentioned testifying in a civil trail involving Tammy Estes, of which he couldn't remember many details.

Now that Tammy Estes' recent allegations are in the open, Colonel Dozier says this has definitely sparked some renewed interest in the 1992 unsolved case of her deceased husband.

"I believe the sheriff in Independence County certainly wants to review the facts again and take a look at this again, and see if any new leads or evidence surfaces as a result of her pending arrest and charges there in Jackson County," says Dozier.

Tammy Estes remains in jail awaiting a mental evaluation before her first court appearance. She is scheduled to appear before a Jackson County Circuit Judge at 9 a.m. on August 24.


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