A quiet backyard baptism has exploded into a shocking criminal case after a pastor was charged in the drowning death of a 61-year-old man during a religious ceremony that was being broadcast live online.
Cheryl Bartley, 48, now faces a count of gross negligence manslaughter following the tragic October 8, 2023 incident in Erdington, Birmingham, according to prosecutors. She is expected to appear in court next month as disturbing new details continue to emerge.
The victim, Robert Smith, a grandfather of seven originally from Jamaica, had traveled from south London to take part in what should have been a deeply personal moment of faith. Instead, it ended in horror.
Authorities say Smith drowned in a small paddling pool set up in the backyard during the baptism ceremony. Emergency crews rushed to the scene shortly after 1:30 p.m., but it was too late. He was pronounced dead on-site.
What makes the case even more unsettling is that the ceremony was being livestreamed on social media at the time. Viewers reportedly watched as the event unfolded before the feed was abruptly cut off. The video has since been removed.
Smith, who reportedly suffered from Parkinson’s disease, had already been baptized once before but wanted to undergo the ritual again as part of a renewed spiritual commitment. Friends say he was seeking to become what he described as a “born-again believer.”
In the aftermath, Bartley allegedly recorded a video claiming she saw Smith in heaven “dancing with Jesus,” a statement that has only fueled outrage and scrutiny around the case.
Bartley leads Life Changing Ministries, a small, largely online church that promotes spiritual healing, deliverance, and supernatural experiences through its broadcasts. The group regularly streams services and hosts virtual sessions promising transformation through faith.
Now, that ministry is under intense spotlight as investigators and prosecutors piece together what went wrong during the fatal ritual.
Officials with the Crown Prosecution Service confirmed they worked closely with police during the investigation, stressing that the legal process is ongoing and that Bartley is entitled to a fair trial.
Still, the case raises troubling questions about safety, accountability, and oversight when religious ceremonies cross into dangerous territory.
As the court date approaches, the shocking death of a man seeking spiritual renewal is now at the center of a case that’s sending ripples far beyond one backyard baptism.
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