Pastor charged with manslaughter after baptism death, says victim was ‘dancing with Jesus’

A pastor in the UK is facing a maximum sentence of 18 years after a home baptism went awry. Cheryl Bartley, 48, would typically livestream her baptisms on Facebook, but in Oct. 2023, one of her congregants tragically lost his life. In a later video that has since stirred controversy on social media, Bartley claimed she saw the late congregant in heaven “dancing with Jesus.”

According to the New York Post, the congregant was Robert Smith, who was 61 years old at the time of his death. Smith was reportedly a faithful member of Bartley’s Life Changing Ministries and lived with Parkinson’s disease. He identified as a born-again Christian and had emigrated from Jamaica 25 years earlier. He worked as a barber in Brixton, London, and was a proud grandfather of seven.

On social media, many were quick to blame the pastor. One user wrote, “Errors in the process need to be admitted. ‘Dancing with Jesus’ is certainly not what you should be saying to the family of the bereaved. Come on.” Another added, “I can’t imagine the shock and grief his loved ones must be feeling. Sending strength.” One user was more pointed with their accusations writing, “How the hell do you down somebody during a Baptism? You’re just supposed to dunk them in and pull them out immediately, not hold them down for several minutes. This stinks of premeditated murder.”

The story attracted thousands of negative reactions on X, and it’s easy to see why it quickly turned into a broader critique of religious practices. Some users said they increasingly only see stories highlighting the negative side of Christianity—from wealthy televangelists to churches turning away people in need. Recently, a TikToker went viral after claiming a local church refused to help her get baby formula for her newborn.

Errors in the process need to be admitted. "Dancing with Jesus" is certainly not what you should be saying to the family of the bereaved. Come on.

— Ola Barnabas (@olabarnabas) April 9, 2026

I can’t imagine the shock and grief his loved ones must be feeling. Sending strength.

— BAMIDÈLẼ (@samp070719) April 9, 2026

How the hell do you down somebody during a Baptism? You're just supposed to dunk them in and pull them out immediately, not hold them down for several minutes. This stinks of premeditated murder.

— Digiorno Giovanni (@Gio_Digiorno) April 9, 2026

Reportedly, Smith was being baptized in a children’s paddling pool inside a house in Birmingham while the ceremony was livestreamed on Facebook. The first sign of trouble came when the stream abruptly cut off. Allegedly, that’s when Smith drowned. By the time emergency services arrived, he had already passed away. West Midlands Police later confirmed through a post-mortem that the cause of death was drowning.

Bartley was officially charged on Apr. 8, 2026, with gross negligence manslaughter. Under UK law, if found guilty, she could face a sentence ranging from one to 18 years. The outcome will likely depend on how the prosecution frames her level of responsibility and response following the incident. Her comments about seeing him in heaven “dancing” may also come under scrutiny in court.

According to follow-up reports, Smith had already been baptized previously, but Bartley’s church conducted another ceremony to confirm him as a “born-again Christian.” Tragically, things did not go as planned. Now, a congregant is dead and the church has been shut down. As the case progresses, more details are expected to emerge about what exactly led to the death. Bartley is scheduled to appear before a magistrate in a Birmingham court on May 14.