Churches examining security after pastor shooting death - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

Days after a pastor was murdered, members of his congregation are still wondering why.

Detectives returned to the church Monday trying to piece together Saturday's shooting that killed Pastor Jaman Iseminger. The suspect, 46-year-old Lori Barcroft, is accused in what police call a cold-blooded shooting at Bethel Community Church of Southport.

Witnesses say around 7:00 am Saturday as Pastor Iseminger worked in the church basement, Barcroft showed up and asked for him by name. The volunteers, who were at the church for a cemetery clean-up project, directed Barcroft inside. They heard gunfire and watched her run away. According to the probable cause affidavit, she also threatened a witness with a gun.

Michelle Rubendall showed us where a police K-9 sniffed her trail to their backyards, claiming it was her homeless shelter.

"Not true, not true. We are all out in our yards too much. We have dogs; there is no way. She just found a convenient spot to hide," said Michelle Rubendall.

We found online records for Barcroft showing her arrest for theft in Utah. As some mourners like Ranella Griggs left memorials outside the church, church neighbor Dee Blake is left with questions.

"It's a shame that it was Jamie because I don't understand why it would be him; why it happened that way," said Dee Blake, church neighbor.

Eyewitness News interviewed Pastor Iseminger at the church for a previous story about his compassion for a young girl in trouble with the law. Now, law enforcement officers want to know what troubled Barcroft so badly that she would take the pastor's life.

"It's a sign of the times," said Pastor Gary Johnson at Indian Creek Christian Church. His church is not only donating money to Iseminger's family, but he's also advising every church to think about security measures.

"Even in a place thought to be so safe, one has to take extra measures to be protected," said Pastor Johnson.

As detectives work on a motive for the shooting, they could learn even more when Barcroft makes her first court appearance on a murder charge Tuesday.