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Retrial set for Word of Faith religious group leader on assault, kidnapping charges

A North Carolina court has scheduled a retrial for a leader of the Word of Faith religious group on assault and kidnapping charges, more than nine years after the first trial ended without a verdict, according to reports.

By The Lumen desk · Sept 28, 2026 · 1 min read
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What we know
1 A retrial has been scheduled in North Carolina for a leader of the Word of Faith religious group.
2 The leader faces charges of assault and kidnapping.
3 According to The Washington Times, the first trial on these charges ended without a verdict more than nine years ago.

A retrial has been set in North Carolina for a leader of the Word of Faith religious group, who faces charges of assault and kidnapping, according to multiple outlets.

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According to The Washington Times, the case is returning to the courtroom more than nine years after the leader's first trial ended without a verdict.

Details about the specific charges, the defendant's identity, and the scheduling of the retrial were reported by outlets across the political spectrum, though limited additional information was provided in the available material.

How each side covered it

Left

1 outlet
  • The Associated Press reported that a retrial has been set for the Word of Faith leader on assault and kidnapping charges.

“Assault and kidnapping retrial for Word of Faith religious group leader set in North Carolina” — Associated Press

Center

1 outlet
  • NewsNation reported that a retrial has been set for the Word of Faith leader on assault and kidnapping charges.

“Assault and kidnapping retrial for Word of Faith religious group leader set in North Carolina” — NewsNation

Right

2 outlets
  • Breitbart reported that a retrial has been set for the Word of Faith leader on assault and kidnapping charges.
  • The Washington Times noted the case is returning to court more than nine years after the first trial ended without a verdict.

“An assault and kidnapping case against a leader of a secretive North Carolina religious group appears to be finally returning to the courtroom more than nine years after her first trial ended without a verdict.” — The Washington Times

Questions readers ask

What happened in the Word of Faith case?

A North Carolina court has set a retrial for a leader of the Word of Faith religious group on charges of assault and kidnapping, according to multiple outlets.

Why is this retrial happening now?

According to The Washington Times, the case is returning to court more than nine years after the leader's first trial ended without a verdict, though the reason for the delay was not specified in the available reports.

What did left-, center-, and right-leaning outlets focus on?

Outlets across the spectrum reported the same core fact—that a retrial had been scheduled—with The Washington Times providing additional context about the case's nine-year history and prior mistrial.

Sources · 4 outlet reports

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