Charlotte pastor jailed on robbery charges dies

A Charlotte pastor arrested in January in connection with nine armed robberies of businesses has died, WBTV confirmed Friday.

John Thomas Lindsey, 47, was taken to a hospital on Monday and died there on Thursday, according to the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office. The cause of death wasn’t immediately known.

Lindsey was a pastor of True Love Church of Refuge on Nations Ford Road.

He was awaiting trial on nine counts each of robbery with a dangerous weapon and conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon, and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.

In a statement posted Friday on its Facebook page, the church said: “The True Love Church of Refuge family is deeply saddened to announce the sudden loss of our beloved Apostle John T. Lindsey, Overseer and Senior Pastor,” the church posted on its Facebook page on Friday. “Please continue to pray with us as we go through this difficult time.”

Lindsey’s funeral is scheduled for 1 p.m. June 12 at Mission Church of the Lord Jesus Christ on Amay James Avenue. The viewing will begin at noon.

In January, the church said in a statement: “We, the leadership and membership of True Love Church of Refuge, are deeply saddened and disappointed that our leader and brother, John Thomas Lindsey, is facing charges associated with criminal activity. Though we denounce any involvement he may have had, we love him and will continue to pray for him.

“The ministry will continue to stand strong despite the latest allegations and will continue to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom.”

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police charged Fernando Carrillo-Hernandez, 24, in connection with three of the robberies.

The robberies occurred Dec. 26 at the 7-Eleven in the 1800 block of Freedom Drive; Dec. 27 at Circle Ks in the 9500 block of University City Boulevard and the 7000 block of The Plaza; Dec. 21 at the Circle K and Kangaroo Express in the 7000 block of East W.T. Harris Boulevard; Dec. 22 at the Circle K in the 5000 block of Sunset Road; Oct. 19 at Family Dollar in the 7900 block of Valleydale Road; and Jan. 19 at Sam’s Marts in the 5200 block of South Boulevard and 3300 block of Sam Futrell Drive.

Lindsey was in the Mecklenburg County jail on $565,000 bail and Carrillo-Hernandez on $225,000 bail.

This story was originally published June 2, 2017 at 9:18 PM with the headline "Charlotte pastor jailed on robbery charges dies."