Florida Church Shooter Left Notes Suggesting Wife Had Cheated on Him

Sept. 20, 2011 — -- The Florida man who killed his wife and then went to a church to gun down a pair of pastors -- including one who was kneeling in prayer -- left behind notes indicating that his wife had been unfaithful, police documents indicate.

It was the second time Jeremiah Fogle, 57, has killed a spouse. He was charged with shooting a previous wife 25 years ago, but was allowed to plead to manslaughter and was sentenced to 10 years probation.

Fogle, who has been married about seven times and is a former church deacon, is being held without bail.

After Fogle subdued following the Sunday shooting, he told authorities, "If you go to my house you will find a full confession and my wife." When asked if his wife was all right, Fogle stated, "She's dead."

Police went to Fogle's house one block away and found the body of Theresa Fogle, 56. She was shot under her chin and on the right side of her chest.

Several mysterious notes in the house suggested that Theresa Fogle may have cheated on her husband, or at least that her husband wanted it to appear that way.

"During the search of the residence, several notes were located inside the residence which suggested apparent allegations of infidelity with numerous subjects," a police affidavit said. "An open Bible was found on the table inside of the residence. Three spent shell casings were found on the dining room table."

When asked about the incident, Fogle told police, "Read the notes on the table. I just want it all behind me." Police asked him if he forced his wife to write the notes and he said, "You can't force anyone to do anything."

A police affidavit states that after shooting his wife, Fogle walked a block to a church service at the Greater Faith Christian Center Church in Lakeland, Fla., about an hour southwest of Orlando,

Fogle entered the church and went straight for Pastor William Boss.

"Fogle walked into the church armed with a Colt .32 caliber revolver and proceeded directly to Boss, who was kneeling in prayer," said the police affidavit.

A witness in the church said that she "observed Fogle lean around Boss in what appeared to be an attempt to identify the correct person and then shot Boss one time in the back of the head."

Fogle then walked over to Associate Pastor Carl Stewart and shot him -- three times behind the left ear, in the back left shoulder and in the center of his back— before turning the gun toward congregant Derrick Foster.

Foster fought back and tried to get the weapon from Fogle. During the struggle, another church member, Corey Reed, "struck Fogle with a microphone stand on the back of the head which allowed the two men to take control of Fogle."

The two men restrained Fogle until authorities arrived. Police later said they found six more rounds of ammunition on Fogle, which seemed to indicate that he had planned to shoot more people.

Tapes of frantic 911 calls record a panicked church member telling a dispatcher, "There's a man…he just shot...I've been shot…please help us ma'am…help me ma'am."

"A man came in…just shot two people…the pastor is down. Our pastor has been shot," said another terrified 911 caller.

A neighbor of the church also called authorities and said, "I believe I heard four or five shot and people are running from the church."

Police documents revealed that Fogle was involved in an eerily similar situation in 1986 with his then-wife Diane Fogle. At 1:30 a.m. in July of that year, Jeremiah Fogle called police to request an ambulance before making another call to say that he had shot someone and was going to shoot himself.

When police arrived, Jeremiah Fogle was in his underwear, holding a rifle and "acting very strange," according to a police report. His stepson was in the house with him. Police found Diane Fogle's body, still warm and covered in blood, "lying on the floor on a blanket with a pillow under her head."

Fogle was charged with first-degree murder, but the charges were dropped to manslaughter and he made a plea deal that resulted in 10 years of probation.

Police asked Fogle if he felt remorse for the church members present during the shooting and he said, "There wasn't that many people in there…Tell them I'm sorry, you have my word."

Fogle made his first court appearance on Monday and was denied bond by the judge. He was charged with first-degree murder, three counts of attempted murder and shooting into an occupied dwelling or public place. Both pastors remain in critical condition in the Lakeland Regional Hospital.

As police continued to question Fogle about the rampage, "Fogle stated that he loved he wife with all his heart and then invoked his right to remain silent."