Virginia Pastor and His Wife Stabbed: Was this Demonic or Did Psychotropic Medication Play a Role?

(Photo of Pastor Hugh and Carol Mayes by WTVR)

Pastor Hugh and Carol Mayes of Shiloh Baptist Church in Carson, Virginia were both brutally stabbed in the chest allegedly by a young man named Maxim Lloyd Chisholm who they had been helping for a number of months.

Local Virginia news outlets  have reported that the suspect  was adopted when he was seven and his parents were drug addicts.  He was a former champion wrestler, he desired to be a Marine, and he had trouble with the law previously.  One family member also described Chisholm as a narcissistic sociopath and a psychiatrist allegedly said he was one of the best liars he had ever seen.

The pastor and his wife not only helped provide housing for him, but they also helped find him a job, bought him a car and even put him up in a hotel.

The night before the brutal stabbings took place,  the pastor had asked for prayer for the suspect because he had attempted suicide and taken a turn for the worse.  Now prayers are being offered for the victims of Chisholm’s alleged crimes.

Max Chisholm has also now been taken into custody after being stopped with the car he had stolen from Pastor Hugh and Carol Mayes.   No one knows the reason Chisholm allegedly committed these crimes.

This writer would like to point out a few things concerning the victims and the alleged perpetrator.  First, the victims are a devout Christian couple in ministry and who pastor a small church.  They were representing Christ to this young man and acting according to the scriptures. This wasn’t a couple who was abusive or doing anything hypocritical, in fact, one may say that this couple was modeling authentic biblical Christianity.  This is the type of Christianity that the world rarely sees and I believe needs to be respected and applauded.

Second, the alleged perpetrator in this case, is someone who fits the profile for being on psychotropic medication.  Not only was this young man adopted from his drug addicted parents, but he clearly has some emotional attachment issues that need to be addressed.  We know from the reports from his family member that he has seen a psychiatrist, which suggests he has been prescribed some form of psychotropic medication.  Many forms of psychotropic medications have side effects that include suicidality and in some cases wanting to harm others.   It will be interesting to see if any new reports reveal the use of any of these medications.

Third, there is always a spiritual component to issues like this.  No where has it been reported that Chisholm ever received Christ and become a Christian.  This is important to note because that would also mean that he may be under the influence of demonic influences.  We know from scripture that the role of the devil is to come to kill, steal and destroy.  From the actions that Chisholm is alleged to have committed, it appears that there may be demonic influences at work.

Let us all pray for the victims to heal quickly so that they may continue in their service to Jesus Christ.  Let us also pray for the alleged perpetrator  that he may find the love and hope and grace he clearly needs.