JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — An arrest report for Paul Dyal, the Jacksonville pastor charged with sexually abusing a minor, states one child was assaulted up to thirty times over the span of seven years.
Dyal, 78, founded the Jacksonville Assembly of the Body of Christ church in Northwest Jacksonville and is in jail with no bond on a capital sexual battery charge.
Two other suspects, Jerome Teschendorf and Vernon Williamson, were arrested in Oklahoma in connection to the case (Jacksonville pastor, 2 others arrested in child sex abuse that went on for decades, police say – Action News Jax).
According to the report, the victim was sexually assaulted starting in March 1979.
The victim stated Dyal would bathe her in his house, which was above the church on Old Kings Road. It allegedly happened while Dyal’s wife and two kids were in the next room.
The report said the victim “stated she never felt clean after the sexual abuse.” She was “happy when new girls would come to the church because she believed she would endure less sexual abuse.”
On September 16, 2020, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said it was notified of multiple sexual battery and child abuse incidents involving victims affiliated with the church. That’s when it launched an investigation.
Action News Jax spoke with several alleged victims who shared details of a cult-like atmosphere at the church (‘Not a bruise that heals’: Victims share stories of abuse, isolation at Jacksonville church – Action News Jax).
A report was made in 2003 by one of the victims, but nothing came of the investigation (Jacksonville pastor’s arrest comes 19 years after the report, police say abuse ongoing for decades – Action News Jax).
Dyal’s arrest report also details physical abuse and states that the victim had bruises all over her body from beatings.
Dyal was arrested on March 8 and had his first court appearance on March 9.
[SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV, and click here to stream Action News Jax Live.
