MCDOWELL COUNTY, N.C. (WSPA) — A man was arrested for embezzling money from his local church, according to the McDowell County Sheriff's Office. On October 28, 2024, deputies spoke with members of a local church regarding a string of embezzlement, fraud and theft. 60-year-old Jeffrey Brian Merrow of Marion, who was a pastor of the church, was the suspect. The church showed officers receipts for goods that were allegedly never purchased or services that were never rendered, all of which were claimed to have been paid for using church funds. One receipt was said to be for a claim to a local insurance company for items that were never stolen. Church members also reported that cash donations for hurricane relief were handed to Merrow but never turned in for their intended use. Additionally, community-donated items for hurricane relief such as generators, chainsaws, heaters, and more were reported stolen. Merrow was reportedly on supervised probation at the time for a previous unrelated incident. Merrow was charged with felony embezzlement and felony larceny and was arrested on January 5.