Tennessee Pastor and His Wife Built a Nationwide Ministry, Only for a Dark, Years-Long Secret To Finally Catch Up to Them
A history of abuse.
Tennessee pastor Benjamin Garlick will spend the rest of his life in prison after a jury convicted him of assaulting a young child, while his wife faces her own sentencing for facilitating the abuse. The case, which unfolded over two weeks in a Rutherford County courtroom, exposed a disturbing contrast between the couple’s public ministry and their hidden crimes.
According to Fox News, Garlick, 35, was found guilty on seven counts of aggravated rape of a child, six counts of aggravated sexual battery, one count of solicitation of sexual exploitation of a minor, and two violations of Tennessee’s Child Protection Act. Circuit Court Judge Barry Tidwell sentenced him to life without parole for the rape convictions, with additional sentencing set for November 10.
His wife, Shaantal Garlick, 32, was convicted of two counts of facilitation of aggravated rape of a child and two counts of aggravated child neglect. Her sentencing has also been scheduled for the same date.
The investigation began two years ago
Back in August 2023, the Murfreesboro police launched a probe into the sexual abuse of a five-year-old. Detectives later identified two more victims, all under the age of 8. Authorities said the abuse spanned several years, with some charges dating back to at least 2014. Shaantal Garlick was accused of knowingly neglecting a victim and assisting in the abuse.
The case took an even darker turn when prosecutors revealed that Benjamin Garlick had built a nationwide ministry, primarily serving the Hispanic community. He and his wife traveled extensively, preaching at churches in Florida, Indiana, Minnesota, and Texas.
Their ministry, La Espada, was founded by Garlick’s grandfather and later led by his late father. Online biographies described Benjamin as an evangelist who began traveling with his father as a child, while Shaantal wrote about meeting him at a youth conference and dedicating her life to their shared mission.
According to the Daily News Journal, Assistant District Attorney General Hugh Ammerman praised the courage of the three young victims who testified during the trial. “All three victims showed great courage and resilience when called to the witness stand,” he said. “I hope that the jury’s decision will help them to heal and put these events behind them as they return their focus to the day-to-day of being kids.”
Ammerman also commended the team effort behind the case, including law enforcement, child advocacy centers, and the jury. The jury had deliberated for two weeks before delivering its verdict.
The trial itself was emotionally charged
Despite this, the courtroom remained controlled. Benjamin Garlick stood calmly in a dark suit as the jury read the verdict, while Shaantal, who had been free on bond, was taken into custody immediately after the conviction. The couple is now being held at the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center. Court records show that Shaantal has filed for divorce, adding another layer of personal collapse to the legal fallout.
Murfreesboro police had previously urged potential victims, particularly in the Hispanic community, to come forward as the investigation expanded. Detective James Wilkinson, the lead investigator, thanked the Child Protective Investigative Team for their work, saying, “The children of Rutherford County are safer because of the compassion, dedication, and commitment each member of the CPIT Team brings to their roles every day.”
The case also shed light on the Independent Fundamentalist Baptist movement, with which Benjamin Garlick was affiliated. Ammerman described the case as “complicated,” involving multiple defendants, victims, and allegations of abuse spanning years and multiple states. The grand jury reindicted the couple in March 2024 as new evidence emerged, underscoring the scope of the investigation.
For years, the Garlicks presented themselves as devoted servants of their faith
The couple traveled the country to spread their message. Their online presence showed them leading services, counseling congregants, and building a ministry rooted in family legacy. But behind the scenes, prosecutors say, they were committing and enabling horrific crimes against children. The verdict now ensures that Benjamin Garlick will never again walk free, while Shaantal faces her own reckoning in November.
The case serves as a stark reminder of how easily predators can exploit positions of trust. For the victims, the legal process may offer a path toward healing, but the scars of the abuse will likely remain. As Ammerman noted, the hope is that the children can now “return their focus to the day-to-day of being kids,” though the road ahead will undoubtedly be difficult. The justice system has spoken, but the impact of these crimes will linger for years to come.
(Featured image: KATRIN BOLOVTSOVA on Pexels)
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