GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM) -- In recent weeks rumors have circulated suggesting Grand Rapids pastor and Grammy Award-winning gospel singer Marvin Sapp is a suspect in the disappearance of Teleka Patrick. But Kalamazoo County Sheriff's investigators say the rumors are false.
Patrick, a 30-year old Kalamazoo doctor, disappeared December 5 under unusual circumstances. It was later revealed that Sapp was granted a personal protection order against Patrick three months prior to her disappearance. In September, Sapp, an acclaimed gospel recording artist and pastor at Lighthouse Full Life Center Church in Grand Rapids, alleged Patrick claimed to be his wife, contacted his teenage children and had been to his home. He said she had joined his church after moving from California.
From the beginning of the investigation authorities at the Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Department have said Sapp was not a suspect. Undersheriff Paul Matyas, tells 11Alive's Grand Rapids sister station, WZZM 13 News, that is still the case. "Mr. Sapp has been nothing but cooperative. He Is an innocent victim of stalking in this incident."
Sapp, a Grammy award winning musician, claims to have at least 400 pages of correspondence from Patrick which he never responded to. His petition requesting the protection order is effective until March 18.
Jim Carlin, the Patrick family private investigator, says he does not believe Sapp or any of his associates harmed Teleka Patrick. However he says her family and members of Sapp's own church are unhappy with how little effort he has shown in efforts to find the missing woman.
Carlin will speak on the Patrick case during a vigil Wednesday, recognizing the 10th anniversary of another missing West Michigan woman, Mary Lands.
