Nationwide — Cheryl Bartley, a 48-year-old pastor from the UK, has been charged with gross negligence manslaughter following the death of Robert Smith, a 61-year-old grandfather, during a home baptism in Birmingham. Police also allege she later recorded a video claiming she saw him “dancing with Jesus” after his death.
According to the New York Post, Bartley live-streamed the baptism in October 2023 during a service hosted by her Life Changing Ministries Facebook page. Smith took part in the ceremony inside a Birmingham home, where he was baptized in a small children’s paddling pool.
Smith, a grandfather of 7, lived with Parkinson’s disease and had a long-standing Christian faith. Reports say he had already been baptized previously but chose to undergo the ceremony again as part of his renewed commitment.
The livestream cut out while Smith was in the water. Emergency services were called to the home, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. A post-mortem later confirmed drowning as the cause of death, according to West Midlands Police.
Following his death, Bartley recorded another video addressing the incident. In that recording, she said she believed she saw Smith in heaven, describing him as “dancing with Jesus,” according to reports.
Police later charged Bartley with gross negligence manslaughter, an offense that can carry a prison sentence in the UK. She is scheduled to appear at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court on May 14.
Smith originally came from Jamaica and had lived in the UK for about 25 years. He worked as a barber in Brixton, London, and was well0known in his community.