Little Rock pastor takes his own life after complaint of sexually explict conduct with a minor child
On April 24, 2024, Tyce Michelle Scroggins found what she has described to authorities as "inappropriate text and pictures" on her husband's cellphone.
The messages were between her husband, Michael Todd Scroggins, the senior pastor at Moody Chapel AME Church in Little Rock and a minor student at LISA Academy High School.
Moody Chapel AME Church |
An argument ensued about the text messages and Pastor Scroggins left the home.
On April 25th, Mrs. Scroggins filed a report with the Little Rock Police Department about the text messages. She also notified LISA Academy administration.
On April 28th, Mrs. Scroggins filed a missing person report with the Sherwood Police Department.
Sherwood Police put out an alert on social media.
On April 30th, Little Rock Police found Pastor Scroggins dead from an apparent self inflicted gunshot wound in his vehicle parked in the back parking lot of the church.
Our LRPD sources say that it appeared that Pastor Scroggins had been dead several days. We are trying to confirm if he was at services on April 28th.
The Scott Administration LRPD tried to keep the whole incident a secret, perhaps on a "suggestion" from the Reverend Mayor Frank Scott, Jr., to protect a fellow clergy member and friend.
Pastor Scroggins has a sketchy past. In December 1997 he pleaded guilty to two count of felony forgery and theft by receiving. He also pleaded guilty to three felony count related to hot checks. He was sentenced to seven years in prison.
Court records also show other convictions for felony theft of property in 1994.
Multiple sources have reported additional allegations concerning Pastor Scroggins that we are continuing to investigate.