Pastor stabbed and set on fire by man she was trying to help

Police in DeKalb County, Georgia have reported that a 27-year-old man, Christopher Griggs, stabbed and burned a 57-year-old pastor, Rev. Marita Harrell, who was attempting to help him. Griggs has been charged with arson and murder, and homicide detectives have since arrested him.

Harrell was a senior pastor at Connections @ Metropolitan church and had been helping Griggs, who was being mentored by Harrell at the time of the attack. The incident took place on May 19th, and Griggs later abandoned Harrell’s body on the side of a road.

According to warrants, Griggs used a large kitchen knife to stab Harrell before setting her on fire. Harrell had moved to Atlanta over thirty years ago and had been a member of Central United Methodist Church for over twenty-five years before accepting the call to become a senior pastor.

Harrell was known for her desire to help others, and the news of her passing left many close friends and family members heartbroken. Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson of the North Georgia Conference of The United Methodist Church issued a statement expressing her sadness over Harrell’s passing and extended her condolences to Harrell’s family, church, and loved ones.