USA

Missouri pastor suspended after church learns she managed Epstein’s private island

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (WDAF) – A pastor in Missouri was suspended last week after it was revealed that he worked and managed the private island of late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein for nearly a year.

Bishop Robert Farr on Thursday Missouri Conference of the United Methodist Church He placed the Rev. Stephanie L. Remington on leave pending review by the diocesan office.

Here’s how Remington reportedly works: Epstein’s administrative assistant and interim estate manager From August 2018 to May 2019 he was on his private island, Little Saint James. Just two months later, in July 2019, Epstein was arrested on sex trafficking charges and then died in his cell in August, claiming suicide.

Although Remington worked closely with the disgraced financier United Methodist (UM) News that he never saw Epstein or anyone else abusive on the island. But he admitted he knew when he took the job that Epstein was a registered sex offender and had served 18 months for the conviction.

“I didn’t see anything,” Remington told the publication. “I knew him for the last nine months of his life, long after he had served time in prison for the things he was accused of doing.”

FILE -This Tuesday, July 9, 2019, photo is from Little St. Petersburg in the U.S. Virgin Islands, a property owned by Jeffrey Epstein. It shows a view of James Island. The Associated Press has obtained more than 4,000 pages of documents from the Federal Bureau of Prisons under the Freedom of Information Act regarding the prison suicide of Jeffrey Epstein. (AP Photo/Gianfranco Gaglione, mFile)
FILE – This July 9, 2019 photo shows Jeffery Epstein’s property on Little Saint James Island in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Associated Press has obtained more than 4,000 pages of documents from the Federal Bureau of Prisons under the Freedom of Information Act regarding the prison suicide of Jeffrey Epstein. (AP Photo/Gianfranco Gaglione, File)
FILE – A file photo from this July 9, 2019 video shows an aerial view of Little Saint James Island in the U.S. Virgin Islands, which was purchased by Jeffery Epstein more than two decades ago. Multimillionaire sex offender Jeffery Epstein used two private islands in the U.S. territory, including Little Saint James, to engage in a nearly two-decade-long conspiracy to traffic and harass girls, a lawsuit filed Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2020, by prosecutors in the Virgin Islands says. (AP Photo/Gianfranco Gaglione, File)

It was later discovered that his name appeared in approximately 1,800 documents. Epstein files on the Department of Justice website. Most of the files are emails discussing his “day-to-day” business operations, UM News reported.

At this time, Remington has not been charged with any crime and his suspension will be temporary (90 days).

Church leaders said they only recently became aware of Remington’s ties to Epstein and were not aware of his previous work.

“The Missouri Conference had no knowledge of the individual’s relationship with Mr. Epstein. Clergy serving in extension ministry operate outside of a local church appointment and report their ministry settings through annual documents submitted to the Conference,” the Missouri Conference said.

“No information indicating this relationship was disclosed in any of these reports. Neither the bishop nor the county investigator was contacted regarding the individual’s interest in or acceptance of the position regarding Epstein.”

Before working for Epstein, Served as pastor and associate pastor at various churches in Remington, Missouri From 2001 to 2018.

His work history includes two churches in the Kansas City metro: First United Methodist Church in North Kansas City and Summit United Methodist Church in Lee’s Summit.

But Remington claimed in its annual filings that it performed publishing ministry during its time working for Epstein and as recently as 2025 through the Lewis Center for Church Leadership at Wesley Theological Seminary, according to the Missouri Conference.

But as part of the early review process, it was discovered that Remington did not work for Wesley Theological Seminary in all the years he claimed and was only appointed as a part-time contractor in 2017 and 2018.

This allegation of forged documents consistent with the Epstein ties led the Missouri Conference to issue a restraining order.

“Priests are called to uphold the highest standards of spiritual and moral leadership. Concerns of this nature are taken seriously and require careful consideration,” the Missouri Conference said. “We recognize the profound harm associated with Mr. Epstein’s crimes and continue to pray for survivors who deserve healing and justice.”

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