By By The People News Online
Accused Pastor Jenson Tarley Wallace
Monrovia, Liberia — The family of Eric K. Duaryenneh, a medical practitioner from Gardnersville, is calling for a full-scale police investigation into his mysterious death, which they believe may have involved foul play.
Eric’s widow, Mrs. Deborah Wallace Duaryenneh, has accused her brother, Pastor Jenson Tarley Wallace, of withholding key information about the incident, raising suspicions of his alleged involvement in the circumstances that led to her husband’s death.
According to Mrs. Duaryenneh, her husband received a call from Pastor Wallace on September 30, 2025, asking him to supervise construction work at the church. She said he left home that morning but never came back.
The following day, after frantic efforts to locate him, the family learned from Pastor Wallace that Eric’s body had already been deposited at the John F. Kennedy Medical Center (JFK) morgue.
“We were still searching for him when Pastor Wallace told us the body was at the morgue,” Deborah recounted. “No one had informed us about how he got there.”
She said that upon viewing the body, the family noticed visible injuries, including broken hands, suggesting that Eric may not have died a natural death.
“This was not normal,” she said. “He had wounds and broken bones. Something terrible happened to him.”
Deborah also raised questions about why her brother was the first to know about the body’s discovery when the rest of the family had not been notified.
“The whole situation is suspicious. We need the police to dig deeper,” she told investigators.
The family believes Eric may have died at the Super 5 Motel, located opposite the Shoe Factory Junction in Gardnersville, and that his remains were later taken to the morgue without their knowledge.
In response, Pastor Jenson Tarley Wallace strongly denied any wrongdoing, describing the allegations against him as false and damaging.
He told police that on Tuesday, September 30, Eric had sent his son to collect the church keys and later called to discuss plans to increase salaries for church workers due to an increased workload.
“We spoke around 1:00 p.m.,” Pastor Wallace said. “Later, I tried calling him, but his phone was switched off.”
He said his brother, Johnny, a former police officer, informed him later that evening that Deborah had been trying to reach him. The next day, Johnny showed him a photo of Eric’s body on his phone — a revelation that left him shocked.
“I started crying. I immediately called my sister to tell her that Johnny said Eric was dead and had died in a motel,” the pastor recounted.
Pastor Wallace added that police informed him the deceased had checked into the Super 5 Motel with an unidentified woman who left before his body was discovered.
“It was the police who took Eric’s body from the motel to the hospital,” he said.
When he later visited the family to sympathize, the situation turned hostile.
“My sister’s daughter said I should not enter the house because I know something about the death,” he said. “An angry crowd threw rocks at me and damaged my car. I narrowly escaped.”
Pastor Wallace said he has consulted his lawyers and intends to take legal action against his sister and niece for defamation and false accusations.
The Liberia National Police (LNP) have confirmed that they are investigating the matter. Officers have interviewed both family members and staff of the Super 5 Motel as part of the ongoing inquiry.
When contacted, the motel’s manager, identified only as Emmanuel, declined to speak on the issue, stating that he was instructed by a police officer not to comment publicly.
“A police officer told me not to speak to the press or anyone else about this case,” Emmanuel told journalist.
The mysterious death of Eric Duaryenneh has drawn public concern, with residents and community leaders calling on the LNP to ensure a transparent and thorough investigation.
“The family deserves answers,” one Gardnersville resident said. “The truth must come out, no matter who is involved.”
As investigations continue, the community remains on edge, waiting for police findings that could clarify the circumstances surrounding the tragic death of Eric K. Duaryenneh.
