US woman accused of killing son was children's minister at Auckland church

Melanie Earley

An American woman who moved to New Zealand after her son died of suspected neglect worked as a children’s ministry director for an Auckland church.

The Minnesota District Attorney alleged Seth Johnson, 7, died in a vomit-soaked bed after a weeks-long illness that his parents, Tim and Sarah Johnson, failed to properly address – instead administering “medical honey” and praying over him.

The Johnsons didn’t show up to their court appearance in relation to Seth’s death back in 2017 and a warrant was issued for their arrest on gross misdemeanour child neglect charges – but the pair had moved to Auckland.

Recently, Tim Johnson returned to the United States with three of their five children. He appeared in Hennepin County District Court last week in connection with Seth’s death which occurred on March 30, 2015.

The couple’s lawyer told local media that Sarah Johnson had also returned to the US. She was staying with relatives and would also appear in court.

It has now been revealed that during the couple’s five years in New Zealand, Sarah Johnson worked as a children’s ministry director at Cession Community Church in Auckland’s Highland Park.

In an email sent to members of the church on May 7, pastor Brett Jones said he was “deeply saddened” to learn Sarah Johnson couldn’t obtain a visa to stay in New Zealand.

“Her visa application was the vehicle for her family to stay,” the email read. “It’s a devastating outcome for our community.”

Jones said Sarah Johnson was “deeply loved” by the children at the church who responded to her “empathy, creativity and intentional discipleship”.

The email encouraged members to help the family with financial and practical needs including airfares, shipping costs, adopting dogs, storing their personal items, helping them clean the house, giving them a place to stay and loaning them a car.

It also asked for members to give the family of seven rides to the airport and sell their car for them when they left.

“Pray for Sarah and Tim as they walk this journey with their children as they come to terms with the dislocation of moving,” the email said.

It was one of at least three emails sent to church members asking them for financial help for the Johnson family.

One church member said the family lived in Auckland’s Kawakawa Bay and homeschooled their three sons and two daughters.