The prophet and the mysterious death of Charmain Speirs

The Prophet and the Mysterious Death of Charmain Speirs

At 40, Charmain Speirs encountered Eric Adusah, a prophet. For years, she had been involved in one of the world’s rapidly expanding Christian movements, Pentecostalism. Her faith brought her a sense of fulfillment she had long sought, yet an emptiness lingered. “She’d just had enough of normal men,” her friend Anne-Marie recounted. “She wanted a man of God. She wanted what was promised for her.”

Adusah, hailing from Ghana, was a prominent figure on Christian television. Within his church, he was labeled a prophet, believed to channel divine messages directly from God. The couple met in 2014, and after a short courtship, they tied the knot in September of that year. Just six months later, Charmain’s body was discovered in a hotel bathtub in Ghana. Adusah was arrested on murder charges but later released due to insufficient evidence. He has consistently denied any role in her death.

Early Life and Struggles

Charmain was born in Arbroath, a small coastal town in Scotland, during the 1970s and 1980s. Her mother, Linda, worked as a cleaner, while her father, Peter, was a plumber. Friends described her as a “social butterfly,” someone others naturally gravitated toward. At 19, she relocated to Glasgow, working in various jobs across shops, restaurants, and bars. Linsey, a friend, shared that Charmain had multiple relationships, some marked by conflict, and she briefly resided in a women’s refuge.

Returning home, her family endured hardship. A brother died in a car accident, and her youngest brother fell into heroin addiction. By her early 30s, Charmain moved to Swansea to rebuild her life and pursue photojournalism. In 2007, she gave birth to a son named Isaac. As a single mother, she battled post-natal depression, which led her to join the Liberty Church. Her involvement with the congregation grew fervent.

The Prophet’s Influence

Adusah, based in London, served as the head pastor of another Pentecostal church. They connected through a Christian dating platform, and within weeks, an engagement was announced. Charmain’s mother, Linda Speirs, was shocked when her daughter informed her of the wedding, as she had not yet mentioned a boyfriend. Friends noted a shift in their dynamic, with Charmain’s visits becoming sporadic.

After marriage, Charmain was hailed as the church’s “first lady.” Bridesmaid Mehrunissa Thomas recalled: “She had gone from just being a normal person and suddenly she was this celebrity.” Yet, Anne-Marie offered a contrasting view. “She said basically: ‘He doesn’t show me any love. There’s no love, there’s no passion’,” she said in the documentary. Charmain, pregnant with Adusah’s child, returned to Arbroath to visit her mother. It was the first time Linda had seen her since the wedding. Charmain confided in her mother about marital tensions and her plans to move back home, but she left before the visit, flying to Ghana.

Investigation and Testimonies

Police records indicate Adusah was the last person to see Charmain alive. His statements to the BBC described a lunch with her, followed by a pool visit, and ending with a “nice time together” in their hotel room. He claimed to have left after midnight for a 6am meeting in Accra before departing for the UK. However, a hotel staff member, Edward (not his real name), revealed a key detail missing from Adusah’s account: two tall men accompanied him to room 112 where Charmain was staying. The incident remains shrouded in mystery, with Adusah’s version of events now under scrutiny.