An Arkansas woman says she finally “snapped” after the pastor she had been secretly involved with refused to admit their affair to his wife. That confrontation ended in deadly violence and a dramatic criminal case that shocked both the religious community and legal observers (source: Associated Press).

The woman, Latoshia Daniels, a licensed mental health and anger-management counselor, was indicted in 2019 for fatally shooting 36-year-old Brodes Perry, who served as the executive pastor of Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church in Memphis, Tennessee. Police say Daniels drove for hours from her home in Little Rock to confront Perry after he refused to tell his wife about their relationship (source: The Commercial Appeal).

The Confrontation Turns Deadly

Authorities report that Daniels arrived at the couple’s apartment in a Memphis suburb, where Perry lived with his wife, Tabatha. During the confrontation, witnesses say Daniels drew a gun and fired multiple times at Perry while shouting, “You broke my heart!” She then turned the gun on Tabatha, who survived with a gunshot wound to her shoulder. Perry was struck in the head and died at the scene (source: WMC Action News 5).

Daniels was later charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, and use of a firearm in the commission of a dangerous felony.

Her Testimony Reveals a Troubled, Secret Relationship

During a week-long trial, Daniels testified that she first met Perry through ministry work at St. Mark’s Baptist Church in Little Rock. She said he began counseling her about marital difficulties she was experiencing — what she described as emotional disconnection and neglect by her husband (source: WATN Memphis).

According to Daniels, what began as pastoral counseling soon escalated into a sexual relationship. She admitted she knew Perry was married but claimed he aggressively pursued her and showered her with affection, gifts, trips, and expensive outings. He even paid for her membership at an upscale cigar lounge he frequently visited.

She said that to avoid suspicion, Perry insisted they always bring a third person along when going out in public so their interactions would appear to be ministry-related.

Daniels Says the Pastor Became Controlling

In her testimony, Daniels painted a picture of a relationship that grew darker and more controlling over time. She said Perry became manipulative, allegedly forcing her to address him with “Yes, sir” and “No, sir” and requiring that she remain unclothed in their hotel rooms or else he would withdraw affection. She also said he pressured her to download a messaging app that instantly deleted communications to cover their tracks (source: CNN).

Perry reportedly told her that he would eventually leave his wife — and at one point claimed his marriage was “ethically non-monogamous,” though his wife later confirmed to police she had no knowledge of any such arrangement.

Daniels testified that Perry repeatedly encouraged her to divorce her own husband, which she eventually did. But Perry remained married, despite telling Daniels he would end the relationship with his wife “at the right time.”

A Breakdown Before the Shooting

According to Daniels, her mental health deteriorated during the final months of the affair. In March 2019, she said she attempted suicide in front of Perry after he became emotionally distant, but he talked her out of it. A month later, he allegedly texted her to formally end the affair (source: The Commercial Appeal).

Heartbroken, Daniels typed a suicide note, grabbed a gun, and drove off — originally intending to take her own life. But when she saw the interstate exit for Memphis, she changed course. She drove to the cigar lounge Perry frequented, found him there, and confronted him. From there, she followed him to his apartment, where he claimed he would admit their affair to his wife. But according to Daniels, he never did.

She insisted she never intended to harm anyone and claimed she has no memory of firing the gun. “I’m so very sorry,” Daniels told the court. “I never wanted to hurt anybody.”

Survivor’s Testimony and the Prosecution’s Argument

Perry’s widow, Tabatha Archie, testified for the state. She described the horrifying scene, saying she heard Daniels scream something like “I didn’t mean to!” after the shots were fired. When police arrived, Daniels allegedly pointed the gun at herself, and officers had to talk her out of pulling the trigger (source: ABC 24 Memphis).

Prosecutors argued that Daniels acted deliberately. They pointed out that she drove nearly three hours to Memphis armed with a gun and spent about 20 minutes speaking with Perry’s wife before opening fire. The state said the shooting reflected Daniels’ anger and heartbreak at Perry ending the relationship, not a momentary loss of control.

Defense attorneys countered that Daniels was in a fragile mental state and acted during an emotional break, not with premeditation.

Verdict: Second-Degree Murder and Reckless Endangerment

After deliberation, the jury convicted Daniels of lesser charges — second-degree murder and reckless endangerment — sparing her from a potential life sentence (source: Associated Press).

Assistant District Attorney Kevin McAlpin explained, “Second-degree murder carries 15 to 25 years, and reckless endangerment carries two to four years.”

Sentencing is scheduled for December 17.

Life After the Crime

Daniels, now 46, spent four years in jail before finally being granted a $250,000 bond in 2023, allowing her to be released before trial. Her attorneys revealed that during her incarceration she wrote two books: one aimed at helping incarcerated mothers and another designed for children with parents in prison (source: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette).

Before the shooting, Daniels was a licensed social worker and owned a behavioral-health clinic specializing in anger-management support — a painful irony that prosecutors highlighted throughout the case.