Two Westboro Baptist Church Members Arrested, Accused Of Child Molestation
Â Two members of the infamous Westboro Baptist Church have been arrested on child molestation charges, according to Topeka Police Department spokesperson Michelle Somerville.51-year-old Parker Eugene Williamson and his 38-year-old wife, Janelle Williamson, both reportedly members of the Westboro Baptist Church, were arrested and booked early this morning. Due to the nature of the arrest, details of the molestation charges have been sealed under court order by Shawnee County judge Herman Jacoby. However, Somerville was able to share with the media that the couple were also facing charges of drug possession, animal cruelty, and resisting arrest.âA warrant was issued to search the Williamson residence. Inside police discovered a bedroom in the house had been chained and padlocked from the outside. I can tell you that there was a child, the couples only son, and three neglected, malnourished dogs, no other details about what was uncovered in that room cannot be disclosed at this time,â Somerville said. âOf course, they also had a room filled with ridiculous, nonsensical signs they use whenÂ picketing. I think thatâs a prerequisite for these people.âThe arrests took place just days after the church announced plans to picket the funeral of famed actor and comedian Robin Williams. Westboro Baptist Church members are known for their picketing of United States soldiers who have died in battle, celebrities, and mostly for their extreme anti-gay standing. Thankfully, they were not aware that Williams had requested cremation, and his ashes were scattered quietly without incident from the Church.ShirleyÂ Phelps-Roper, the daughter of deceased WBC founder Fred Phelps, was reached by telephone shortly after the arrests were made, and she blatantlyÂ refused comment on the matter, claiming she didnât know the Williamsons, and that anyone who asked would surely âburn in hell like all the other fag enablers.âDue to the anti-gay stance of the church, and their supposed technique of only using words and no violence, an organization named Planting Peace, who opposes the church and is located right across the street from their home, is planning to continue to raise money in the name of overpowering WBCâs hate by getting people to donate money to charitable causes.Stanley Unser ofÂ Planting Peace had this to said that their organization said they would take donations for suicide prevention, in honor of Williams. âThe WBC might not have been able to picket a funeral for a well-loved celebrity, but they planned it. They think these are good things. Death is good. Theyâre sickos.âWestboro Baptist Church has become more of a laughing-stock to the public in over time, with internet hatred giving way to peaceful, almost comedic, public protest.Â Those people who oppose the church, which obviously includes almost every living person on the planet, have increasingly set out to make a mockery of Westboro, mocking their well-known signs and picketing right along with them. People have taken to making their own versions of the hatefulÂ signs, using such slogans as âGod Hates Signs,â and âGod, My Sharpies Are Drying OutâÂ and posing along with church members,Â taking selfies to post on the internet.âBased on the number of funny signs, memes, and images found on the internet, it seems that the WBC is losing ground,â says University of Kansas behavioral sciences professor Dr. Carmen Fiorucci. âIt truly seems to be that society has always been sickened by the group, which in my opinion is a hate group, even though the White House would not label them as such, but nobody is taking them seriously anymore. They make signs with hateful messages on them, that is their only form of spreading their gospel, which is really just bullâ-, and itâs not spreading anymore. They have become a joke to society. The kids making signs to mock them and pose in front of them for photos, and good for them! It shows these loons have been defeated. If these members are proven to have committed the crimes which have been alleged, the burning of the church has begun, you can count on that.âSomerville stated that the investigating ofÂ alleged crimes is being handled with the âutmost diligence,â and details will be releasedÂ at the proper time.